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iPhone Hacked In Under 60 Seconds Using Malicious Charger
DavidGilbert99 writes "Apple's iOs has been known as a bastion of security for many years, but three researchers have now shown iPhones and iPads can be hacked in just under 60 seconds using nothing more than a charger. OK, so it's not just a charger — but the Mactans charger does delete an official app (say Facebook) replacing it with an official-looking one which is actually malware which could access your contacts, messages, emails, phone calls and even capture your passwords. Apple says it will fix the flaw, but not until the release of iOS 7, the date of which hasn't been confirmed yet. So watch out for chargers left lying around ..."
(For less in the way of auto-playing video ads with sound, check out the Mac Observer's take, which concludes "[I]t's nifty that Apple is addressing the issue in iOS 7. We'd also like to see it fixed in iOS 6. Apple has historically seen iPhone users upgrade to the newest version iOS in staggeringly high numbers, but eliminating this problem across the board seems the wiser choice.")
The quickest way to get PWND is to give someone else physical access to your device.
Always has been true, and likely always will be.
An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
That wouldn't solve the problem? USB chargers on Android can install apps and transfer files either way if the device has USB debugging enabled. If iPhones used USB the data protocols wouldn't be changed and would have the same capabilities...
So does this mean you could write a jailbreak for iOS device using a modified charger? If so, how is this any different than plugging the device into a computer?
I'm out of my mind right now, but feel free to leave a message.....
Some people are jizzing their pants over iOS 7 but I think a lot of us will refuse to "upgrade".
Do you even lift?
These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.
How many Android handsets come with USB debugging enabled by default?
Oh, no! You have walked into the slavering fangs of a lurking grue!
delete an official app (say Facebook) replacing it with an official-looking one which is actually malware which could access your contacts, messages, emails
If they're using an iPhone, they already succumbed to brain hacking by Apple's marketing.
Since when? iOS has had repeated and nearly constant flaws that have allowed for compromises both locally and remotely (via webpages). At this point it's such a given that this is mostly a non story.
I thought the RDF had dissipated, but I guess not.
Sounds like a good idea to me - ROLL IT OUT
Apple's iOs has been known as a bastion of security for many years
Uh, what? The fuck it has. Guess it just goes to show what a massive marketing campaign will do for your public image. The platform has never been any less hackable than the competition, especially when you're talking physical access to the device.
Jailbreaking depends on security vulnerabilities, which every version of iOS has been susceptible to. How is iOS a bastion of security?
That wouldn't solve the problem? USB chargers on Android can install apps and transfer files either way if the device has USB debugging enabled. If iPhones used USB the data protocols wouldn't be changed and would have the same capabilities...
Almost.
I have seen USB wire things that do not have data connected (at AT&T shops).
At the time I passed on the $9 cable because I wanted to move stuff on and off my phone via USB.
Now that someone has done this hack I will get and keep a no data USB wire for travel and other situations where I might plug into a random who knows USB charger and not my own charger.
It does tell me that the TLA guys now have a window into my soul should they replace my charger at home with their device that sends my soul to mars.
Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't. Mark Twain.
Nonsense. It's absolutely the wisest thing Apple could possibly do. Adding the spur of an outstanding unpatched "OMG I'm PWND" vulnerability to the carrot of the news "OMG SHINY" is absolutly brilliant. A wonderful way to counter sagging uptake.
Oh, you mean "wisest in terms of supporting your customer?." How quaint.
They're not your customer once you have their money.
Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
I'm sorry, but if every version of your OS is trivially jail-breakable (with, for example, exploits that amount to root privilege escalation by simply visiting a web page on the device's browser), you are NOT a bastion of security.
You can argue that Apple does a better job of "securing" their app store than Google does, but that doesn't make the devices themselves any more secure. Just because something trivially exploitable hasn't been exploited (that you know of ... yet) doesn't make it secure.
--Jeremy
Jesus was a liberal
This is just more mindless Google fanboy anti-Apple hate.
It's not like this a trojan you have to turn on the installation of non-market applications and go to a pirate app store to get installed. You actually have to have the device.
And this is just like a jailbreak, so it is a good thing.
Why can't Iphone / ipad have usb port for charging and not high priced apple changes with iffy knock offs?
Jobs wanted it so. (not the iffy knock offs, he hated those)
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
Does the fake charger still charge the phone?
The charger is a mini linux machine what needs to use an apple developer account to dynamically add the devices UDID to the developer portal.
It then signs the malicious app and installs it.
It takes advantage of ad-hoc distribution and would require a new Apple developer account every 100 devices.
The only real mastery of this hack is that it can be concealed to look like a charger due to the small footprint of the linux PC. Otherwise, I could do the same thing with physical access to the phone.
Still, a fun wee hack and novel approach.
The "charger" port is, in fact, a USB port (or something similar) so yeah: if you don't have physical security, you don't have security, just like everything else.
Also, "Apple... will fix the vulnerability in the iOS 7 release" is not the same as "Apple has said they won't fix this in iOS 6." We'll have to wait and see what they say/do before passing judgement. (Radical idea, I know.) Apple was selling 3GSs with iOS 6 less than a year ago, and as far as I know, those little guys won't run 7.
Dear Slashdot: next time you want to mess with the site, add a rich-text editor for comments.
Exactly, except Apple products are usually more crackable than the competition, as proven in almost every one of the Pwn2Own events.
That wouldn't solve the problem? USB chargers on Android can install apps and transfer files either way if the device has USB debugging enabled. If iPhones used USB the data protocols wouldn't be changed and would have the same capabilities...
What port do you plug your iPhone into if it isn't the USB port?
USB only defines a standard connector and a wire level protocol. What the common connector would solve is having to have X number of cables/chargers. With my Android micro-usb equipped phone, I can use any other micro-usb charger or cable. With the iPhone you have to have a special cable or charger.
Even with USB debugging enabled (which some handsets constantly nag to have it turned off), Android handsets use a public/private key system. If the charger tries to get access, the phone will ask if it should have full data rights to it.
Of course, this means that if someone clicks OK, they are hosed, but it is better than just sticking an adapter on and doing dirty work without knowing the device's PIN or password.
Only because nobody cared enough to spend any time hacking them...
Why can't Iphone / ipad have usb port for charging and not high priced apple changes
The Apple chargers just supply a USB port power. The iOS devices can all plug into any USB port to charge...
The ironic thing is that if Apple did in fact make "apple changes" then it would be HARDER for this attack to work, because you'd have to re-create the Apple charger and the charger would have to have a data line into the phone, unlikely.
In fact, ANY device that uses USB to charge is potentially prone to attacks where the "charger" is really a computer attempting to mount the device in the most literal sense. That could me quite a lot more true of Android than iOS...
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Well, the fact Apple's connector fits both ways is a big plus. However, I would rather have seen a new USB standard with that feature than a proprietary connector doing it, and I'm sure Apple could've joined the board to push that, so it most certainly doesn't excuse them.
If this charger deletes the Facebook app, I don't think that qualifies as "malware".
#DeleteChrome
Whatever flaw they are using to hack the phone is a possible jailbreak exploit that they are needlessly wasting.
At the very least they should let the jailbreak community at this first, THEN show off the malicious charger. At this rate we'll never see a JB for iOS 7!
I think a lot of us will refuse to "upgrade".
iOS 5 was an "upgrade".
iOS 6, and iOS 7 have been really nice updates - iOS7 especially is very useful. It's the first beta OS I have ever installed on my main phone because I found it too useful to not have daily.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
>[I]t's nifty that Apple is addressing the issue in iOS 7. We'd also like to see it fixed in iOS 6.
Only Apple gets away with this...
Huge security hole, and hey, it's "nifty" that they are going to eventually fix it if you upgrade your OS.
Thanks...
Since when? iOS has had repeated and nearly constant flaws that have allowed for compromises both locally and remotely (via webpages)
There was one such remote vulnerability, via PDF, some years ago... none since then I know of.
There have always been local flaws because Apple leaves some local exploits to keep jailbreaking viable.
Of course, even with said flaws actual exploits exist pretty much only for Android.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
You had me at "Apple's iOs has been known as a bastion of security for many years"...
my daughter has my iphone 3GS...(I had a new battery put in it and its good as new) Now, she won't be upgrading to ios7 either, because the 3GS isn't supported. So yeah, security fixes for ios6 would be pretty welcome.
So since the "hack" involves have a small charger that's really an iOS development computer, and can attack only 100 devices before it runs out of open UUID's in the deve account they use - what makes you think your daughter's iPhone would be worth the degree of effort it takes to attack?
There's no way that an iOS device worth attacking at this point is not at least on an iPhone 4 or higher.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Um, I plug both my iPhone and iPad into a USB plug thats built into a wall power socket.
In fact ANYTHING that will supply 10W through a standard USB socket will charge an iPad/iPhone/iPod, USB-car chargers, the mains powered one which came with my panasonic camcorder, my power strip that has a USB outlet on it, laptops, desktop PCs, none of these built by Apple.
Yeah, because Apple chargers are just so hard to find. There's a time that talk like that made sense... a time when if you owned an LG X-12 there was a good chance that a LG R-25 wouldn't use the same charger but it's just not like that today. Both in my home and my office Apple connectors are just as common as MicroUSB. If anything it's the MicroUSB that comes off as the "special cable."
"You're charging it wrong."
You'll only get 150mA charging from a USB cable with no data lines. Anything higher from a computer requires negotiation (will get you up to 500mA), and from a wall-wart requires shorting the data pins.
Does your USB cable carry raw audio?
I guess they don't do the same thing.
I would imagine our government would be more interested in acquiring a secretly swapping it with one like killed that lady in China, or swapping with any political enemies that use an iPhone.
Brought to you by Carl's Junior.
Anyone stupid enough to use a strangers "charger" deserves what they get, and its no ordinary charger, but a computer attached via usb cord.
Why can't Iphone / ipad have usb port for charging and not high priced apple changes
The Apple chargers just supply a USB port power. The iOS devices can all plug into any USB port to charge...
-1, wrong.
From Ken Shirrif's blog:
John
Or just more desireable.....
iOS is worse than winblows as far as worms go.
How many Android handsets come with USB debugging enabled by default?
How many real world malware purveyors would go to such lengths as to modify an iPhone charger into a mini linux box, do a few weeks of coding and then leave the things around hoping for unsuspecting victims to pick them up and plug them into their iPhone? There has to be an easier way to hack somebody's phone than this.
My outlets at home provide all the current my device could hope for.
---
ECHELON is a government program to find words like bomb, jihad, plutonium, assassinate, and anarchy.
A lot of iDevice users believe the fancy ports are better than standard USB ports when in fact they both do the same thing.
Why are so many people so ignorant on this point?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dock_connector#30-pin
It contains controls, audio and video, as well as data & charging like USB.
There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
Major advantage to me is that now I don't have to double check if I have the right side "up" of the connector when I connect my iPad to the charging cable. You can bitch a lot about Apple I think this is a step forward, especially for older people.
Perl Programmer for hire
Funny. I've never seen that and I've charged with plenty of non-Apple chargers including using USB ports with non-Apple 30 pin and lightning connectors.
Meh. More SlashFUD.
Apple's iOs has been known as a bastion of security for many years
Uh, what? The fuck it has.
That had me chuckling as well.
Remember when you could visit a website to "slide to jailbreak"
from right inside the web browser?
Actually, the cash prize dwarfs the object prize, which eliminates any notions of going for a certain object because it is more "desirable."
The Apple products are the easiest to crack and are usually pwnd in a matter of seconds.
I'm sure this is intentional. That's why they're not fixing it until next version, when they can implement a new backdoor that isn't so easy to find before onboarding the new clients (NSA). Same type of shit from Microsoft and Oracle delaying zero-days. "oh yeah we can fix this obtuse, barely exploitable and complex exploit in an emergency out of cycle release" "oh, but, no. this obvious out of bounds issue with a trivial satiny check fix with exploits in the wild that convenient make investigators jobs much easier can't be done until 6 months from now"
yeah... ok.
So many links, and just plain wrong.
An iphone will charge just fine off of any USB port on any old PC.
In fact, it has been this way since the ipods, which used the same connector. If I remember right, some ipods didn't even include a charger; you HAD to charge them off of USB unless you bought your own charger. Or maybe we just lost the charger; but the point is, charging over USB worked just fine.
Free charging stations at protest rallies would be an easy way for Feds to gather extended data on everyone present.
iOS uses signing too. The hack described here reads the phone's UID, signs it with an Apple dev key, and then pushes it to the phone. It requires communication with Apple servers and can be used on at most 100 devices before it's automatically disabled.
It's a slightly different style of attack than would be used on Android phones, but in terms of public vulnerability it's not really a different threat level.
Right... you bought an expensive phone which can be hacked in seconds, but its their fault for using a charger? Perhaps the dongle part is hidden from view and all you see is the cord? if someone wants to hack you they are not likely to put up a sign saying "malicious charging unit here". Typical apple fan response, its the users fault...
On some computers. Others will happily provide 5V until the fuse/thermistor (if present) overheats.
Does the other end of apple's magically expensive cord plug into a USB port?
Even with USB debugging enabled (which some handsets constantly nag to have it turned off), Android handsets use a public/private key system. If the charger tries to get access, the phone will ask if it should have full data rights to it.
Of course, this means that if someone clicks OK, they are hosed, but it is better than just sticking an adapter on and doing dirty work without knowing the device's PIN or password.
Not quite,
If the device is in fastboot mode it'll let any device have it's way with its file system.
But you need have put the device in fastboot mode, which means the user is an idiot or you've got physical access to the device. In which case on device security wont help one iota.
Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
The Apple chargers CAN supply more power than the USB spec to Apple devices.
But it's totally optional. You can charge ANY iOS device on ANY USB port, it will just take somewhat longer. You can plug ANY USB powered device into an Apple USB charger, and it will charge. It's USB, that's what it does.
In just one post you manage to demonstrate complete ignorance as to the subject matter at hand, and unwillingness even to use Google for one second to prevent yourself from looking like a complete idiot.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
This isn't accurate. Fastboot will only flash something that's signed by the manufacturer, unless the bootloader is unlocked, which won't matter anyway if the device is encrypted. Nexus devices are locked too, and unlocking the bootloader wipes all data, so you still won't get access to anything. ADB sideloading requires ADB to be enabled and the RSA fingerprint of the PC to be accepted.
Except for the fact the more non apple products are powned at those contests than apple products. Especially 2012 and 2013.
Not to mention since it tied to a developer account that account can be revoked at it will leave a "paper trail".
The charger is a mini linux machine what needs to use an apple developer account to dynamically add the devices UDID to the developer portal.
It then signs the malicious app and installs it.
It takes advantage of ad-hoc distribution and would require a new Apple developer account every 100 devices.
The only real mastery of this hack is that it can be concealed to look like a charger due to the small footprint of the linux PC. Otherwise, I could do the same thing with physical access to the phone.
Still, a fun wee hack and novel approach.
It also requires a modified cable with at least some of the same electronics that are used for the factory burn-in through the dock connector. The hack either required some stellar reverse engineering, or it required access to an Apple engineer with clearance for the cable for developer fused devices, or it required a factory worker in China to sneak out a cable. My money would be on the China connection, since China tends to leak like a sieve, even in the factories used for Apple products.
This isn't accurate. Fastboot will only flash something that's signed by the manufacturer, unless the bootloader is unlocked, which won't matter anyway if the device is encrypted. Nexus devices are locked too, and unlocking the bootloader wipes all data, so you still won't get access to anything. ADB sideloading requires ADB to be enabled and the RSA fingerprint of the PC to be accepted.
I wasn't talking about flashing anything, simply reading, copying to and modifying files on the file system. Fastboot enables the ADB bridge.
If you've gotten into fastboot, you've probably bypassed most if not all the security measures (most importantly, the physical security).
Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
The cord that has audio connectors on the other end doesn't. Just because you've never plugged anything but a USB cable into your iPhone doesn't mean nobody else has.
none..oh wait was that a rhetorical question?
No, all USB hosts provided 5v until the PTC trips. Devices are not supposed to draw more than 150ma unless they get clearance from the USB bus or the data lines are jumpered.
Pwn2Own 2010: iPhone 3GS compromised via bypassing code signing; Nexus One not compromised.
Every year Android has existed: 99% of viruses on Android.
Reality totally contradicts the picture you are trying to point. Android far more secure: Odd then it has ALL of the viruses/trojans/malware. Apple disliking jailbreaking: odd then that jailbreaks come out with great regularity after every new OS or device release (but mostly tethered) and Apple hires jailbreak developers to work on core systems sometimes...
Your hatred is blinding you to reality.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Cereal boxes are at least useful...
Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
Do not buy anything except Steve Jobs' blessed chargers from Steve Jobs' blessed stores from Steve Jobs' bless salesgeniuses.
Anyone stupid enough to use a strangers "charger" deserves what they get, and its no ordinary charger, but a computer attached via usb cord.
Come on, lets get a sense of perspective instead of going into fanboyism (or anti for that matter).
Before today I had absolutely no idea a microcomputer could be made to look like a charger, or that the charging port on iPhones could be used to hack iOS. If you read TFA, the way they did it is pretty deceptive and ingenious.
Its fair to say that most people have a blind spot insofar as power ports are concerned, we normally don't think of it as a point of entry and this is the social engineering trick this hack takes advantage of . In fact, I think that prior to iPod/iPhones, no device used their power point to double up as a data connector. Pre-iphone, I remember swapping and borrowing Nokia/Sony etc. phone chargers from friends/strangers with no repercussions whatsoever.
It is very insulting and unfair to call people who would use a stranger's charger 'stupid' -not everyone is a techie or keeps updated with technology news. Which is probably why you posted as AC instead of under your own name =)
But that's what makes IOS so good. It doesn't ask you dumb questions like "do you want your phone rooted via this USB port" - it just goes ahead and does it. It's a bit like the many volume levels in IOS - you can only set ONE of them, so if ANY of the other volumes fucks up, you're toast - as happened to me. It took me a VERY long time to recover my volume (other than the factory reset suggested by Apple).
http://it.slashdot.org/story/13/06/03/0312208/researchers-infect-ios-devices-with-malware-via-malicious-charger - "At the upcoming Black Hat security conference in late July, three researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology plan to show off a proof-of-concept charger..."
Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
Back in 2009, I wrote on Slashdot
Yes, I was in an airport recently, and there were power outlets with both AC and USB. The future is here.
Yes, but how do you know it only provides power? It might also read or write whatever is plugged into it, install malware, steal your info, or whatever.
We warned you. You didn't listen. Now suffer. Downside
Are you kiddin' I'm still using iOS 5. "Facebook integration" deterred me from upgrading-- I do use Facebook, but no way I want it integrated. Facebook sandboxing, now for that I'll upgrade. When I buy a new IOS device, the first thing I'll have to do is jailbreak it (have had no need to so far) just so I can un-integrate Facebook. Perhaps by downgrading the app to the oldmone I'm running now-- pre video ads...
Please, read TFA you linked to.
99% of newly discovered malware is not the same as 99% of viruses. Stop spinning.
Further, having a larger number of malware directed at a platform does not mean that particular platform is less secure. Malware makers will benefit the most by having large infection pools, and will thus often target the most popular platform, which right now is Android.
You should also note, also in TFA you linked :-
Dare I say, both platforms pwned then? The only truth is that neither platform is totally secure, and that security depends on the manner of use; for example, if you jailbreak or root your phone, you are more exposed. Trying to spin it either way is an exercise in stupidity.
Are you distinguishing that from all the devices that do audio, video and controls over USB?
Where can I get one!?!?
Yes he is. Because there's no such thing as a USB device that carries analogue audio or video. Or even real digital audio or video (such as S/PDIF or DVI, not some streamed computer format), for that matter.
You're right, there haven't been several month periods when no one could jail brake their device because no one could find a single root exploit – even one that could be exploited with physical access. Oh wait, there have.
[I]t's nifty that Apple is addressing the issue in iOS 7.
How is that "nifty"? It's the least they should do. It's like Chris Rock's thing about all those parents who go round proudly proclaiming that "I take care of my kids!" You're supposed to take care of your kids!
systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
Almost none, how many come with a single root exploit somewhere in their entire codebase? Probably all of them.
What about the myriad devices with iPhone specific docks? Would you trust using someone else's speakers with your iPhone? I'm willing to bet most iPhone owners wouldn't give it a second thought.
Of course, this means that if someone clicks OK, they are hosed, but it is better than just sticking an adapter on and doing dirty work without knowing the device's PIN or password.
Hmm... So how is that different from the Apple charger case if a user manually authorizes the process? Didn't you read the TFA or even the summary?
Once the charger is plugged in and the user inputs their PIN code, ...
You see, it means that an iPhone user has to input their PIN or "authorize" the access, which is similar to clicks "OK" as you mentioned. From here, I see no difference between the USB debugging feature enabled and charger...
In fact, I think that prior to iPod/iPhones, no device used their power point to double up as a data connector.
The Motorola StarTac had a connector that simultaneously charged it from a USB port while also establishing a data connection.
Here's the thing: for both the iPod/iphone 30-pin connector and the old Motorola StarTac connector it was entirely up to the wiring in the cable whether it provided only power or both power and data, but iPod users pushed cable manufacturers to only offer cables that do both. For the StarTac, users didn't care so much and manufacturers offered both power-only cables and power+data cables. Carrying a 30-pin cable that only had wiring for the power pins could immunify you from the hack, but users don't want to give up convenience.
For the lightning connectors, Apple offers multiple security chips for license and I believe the cheapest only supports charging but nobody has licensed it for a cable (not even manufacturers of car chargers) again because users negatively view cables that don't support both power and data.
Frankly I think a niche manufacturer missed the boat on a marketing opportunity here. Many installations where classified work is done prohibit you from using your work computer to charge your phone because they're worried about data leakage. If someone offered a cable using Apple's power-only chip they might be able to get those workplaces to buy such a cable for their business Apple devices.
Because there are more non-Apple products than Apple products?
s/powned/pwned/
Yes, yes it does. WTF USB cables have you been using?
One of you comes off as an idiot. Hint: It's not plover.
If you cut all the wires in your charging cable except power and ground, will the device still charge?
If so, transparent "USB extenders" that only have power and ground wires would let anyone charge anywhere without data risk (there would still be the risk of malicious over-voltage, but that's a different risk).
If not, then future devices that charge over USB or other data+power cable should be built to charge with a "power-only, all other pins disconnected" cable.
Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
it also requires the user to unlock the device.
Especially when a lot of places (airports, even planes etc) now provide USB ports for charging of mobile devices.
Can you point ONE out?
There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
Video over USB:
http://www.everythingusb.com/targus-usb-3.0-dual-video-adapter-21477.html
Audio over USB:
http://hifimediy.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=107
Controls over USB:
http://www.amazon.com/Griffin-Technology-NA16029-Multimedia-Controller/dp/B003VWU2WA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375463450&sr=8-1&keywords=usb+volume+control
You can tell Apple's under new management recently. Apple used to never admit to security issues and flaws under the Steve Jobs flag. Apple has always been the holy grail of hackers.
http://thetechnologygeek.org/
On a train, laptop plugged into an outlet someone approaches you and says, "I have an important call to make and my phone battery is almost dead, can I plug it into your laptop's USB port."
Assuming the user keeps the device locked normally. It's a balance of convenience and security, and this revelation has changed the balance.
"When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
hundreds of posts and im not seeing anyone drop the word so here it goes
ASPEN
local and remote - saw someone else use it just the other day, not secure in the least really.
So, you can't point ONE out that can do all three.
Also the video one is a custom chip so not JUST over USB.
Also, the audio one is a custom chip so not JUST over USB.
Also the controls one is a custom chip AND custom software so not JUST over USB.
Thanks for perfectly making my point.
There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
??? Of course there's custom hardware at the other end. The iphone cable requires custom hardware that (1) has the right sized port, (2) has the circuitry that does something with the signal it gets (except in the case of audio).
The point stands. Video, audio and control can certainly be done over USB. There's no *NEED* for the iphone cable.
LOL. We need custom hardware. Apple doesn't need custom hardware!
Or something.
Let me know when you get those things over just a USB cable *without custom hardware*. That was the original argument.
There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure