Question O.MG Cable networking features ?

[Janiik]

Hello, guys, has anyone heard of O.MG Cable? It is a potent hacking tool that looks just like a regular USB cable. After being plugged into computer, it can act as a WiFi client or it start broadcasting WiFi hotspot an attacker (being up to 300 feet away) can connect to. Then, it is possible to perform keystroke injections, mouse injections, run payloads, etc... (via web interface).

I understand that there is a wireless network interface incorporated within the cable... But is anyone able to elaborate on the technical background of the WiFi hotspot emanating process? You know, it is just a cable !!! xD

Thanks a lot!

 

[bill001g]

The actual wifi radio chips are tiny so they could be hidden in the ends of a USB cable. Now I doubt it is going to go 300ft without any actual antenna. You never really know with devices like this. Since it uses wifi it needs a FCC certification and without it the device is illegal to use....the actual penalty is likely more than some of the hacking laws not that you ever hear of the FCC enforcing much consumer electronics stuff.

The other things without FCC approval you also lack the ability to see the technical reports that show things like transmit power so who knows if it can actually even communicate 1ft away much less 300.

I have not looked it up but does the USB device have actual have radios or is it taking control of the wifi in the victim PC.

I would not trust anything like this. Companies that make device like these do not seem to feel they need to follow any laws so they could just as easily decide to rip off the people who buy it by selling them something that is not real.

 

[Janiik]

The actual wifi radio chips are tiny so they could be hidden in the ends of a USB cable. Now I doubt it is going to go 300ft without any actual antenna. You never really know with devices like this. Since it uses wifi it needs a FCC certification and without it the device is illegal to use....the actual penalty is likely more than some of the hacking laws not that you ever hear of the FCC enforcing much consumer electronics stuff.

The other things without FCC approval you also lack the ability to see the technical reports that show things like transmit power so who knows if it can actually even communicate 1ft away much less 300.

I have not looked it up but does the USB device have actual have radios or is it taking control of the wifi in the victim PC.

I would not trust anything like this. Companies that make device like these do not seem to feel they need to follow any laws so they could just as easily decide to rip off the people who buy it by selling them something that is not real.

The product (O.MG Cable) is distributed by Hak5 organization. It is a legitimate product used mainly for pentesting/redteaming purposes...

The cable is allegedly capable of both emanating WiFi signal an attacker can connect to and acting as a WiFi client utilizing the internet connection of the computer it is connected to...

 

[bill001g]

So what is its FCC id number. You can look up the reports they must file that also must include internal photos at the fcc site.
The reports will show you exactly what the transmit power is so you can kinda calculate the distance it will go.

If it does not have a FCC id then it is illegal to use. Even using it on your own machine unless you use it in a room shield to not leak wifi can get you a actual jail term if they would choose to enforce the laws.

 

[Janiik]

So what is its FCC id number. You can look up the reports they must file that also must include internal photos at the fcc site.
The reports will show you exactly what the transmit power is so you can kinda calculate the distance it will go.

If it does not have a FCC id then it is illegal to use. Even using it on your own machine unless you use it in a room shield to not leak wifi can get you a actual jail term if they would choose to enforce the laws.

Man, I am not about to buy that or whatever, I am just interested how it is possible that something as trivial as USB cable can serve as a viable WiFi hotspot xDD

 

[USAFRet]

Man, I am not about to buy that or whatever, I am just interested how it is possible that something as trivial as USB cable can serve as a viable WiFi hotspot xDD

Sure. That size is no problem.

A few years ago there was a product called Eye-Fi.
WiFi hotspot, built into an SD card for a camera.

Eye-Fi - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I had a couple.
Very useful little device.

 

[Janiik]

Sure. That size is no problem.

A few years ago there was a product called Eye-Fi.
WiFi hotspot, built into an SD card for a camera.

Eye-Fi - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I had a couple.
Very useful little device.

Wow, never heard of that. So, you buy that card and, voila, internet connection for your mobile devices is available?

 

[USAFRet]

Wow, never heard of that. So, you buy that card and, voila, internet connection for your mobile devices is available?

Well, sort of.

It gave WiFi capabilities to any camera that uses an SD card.
Not direct "internet".

But it was VERY useful.
After a day out, shooting pics, when I came home....just turn the camera on, and it starts transferring the pics directly to the PC.

Or, when out for a day of pic taking, you have a laptop or table in your backpack.
It would automatically transfer the pics, as they are taken, directly to the laptop.

The company, in its infinite wisdom, crippled it in various stages as time went on.
Eventually, useless.

 

[Janiik]

Well, sort of.

It gave WiFi capabilities to any camera that uses an SD card.
Not direct "internet".

But it was VERY useful.
After a day out, shooting pics, when I came home....just turn the camera on, and it starts transferring the pics directly to the PC.

Or, when out for a day of pic taking, you have a laptop or table in your backpack.
It would automatically transfer the pics, as they are taken, directly to the laptop.

The company, in its infinite wisdom, crippled it in various stages as time went on.
Eventually, useless.

Thanks for enlightening info... So, the Eye-Fi card gave the camera WiFi capabilities... Does it mean that the camera could now "utilize" internet connection (originating from laptop or phone) rather than "generate" it itself?

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks for enlightening info... So, the Eye-Fi card gave the camera WiFi capabilities... Does it mean that the camera could now "utilize" internet connection (originating from laptop or phone) rather than "generate" it itself?

Well, via the EyeFi application, you could upload directly to Facebook, Flickr, ftp, etc.

I used that for a friends wedding.
The pics were being automatically uploaded to facebook as I took them. Allowing his relatives that could not be there, to watch what was happening in almost realtime.

Remember, this was before FaceTIme or live streaming was a thing, and camera phones were pretty crappy.

 

[Janiik]

Well, via the EyeFi application, you could upload directly to Facebook, Flickr, ftp, etc.

I used that for a friends wedding.
The pics were being automatically uploaded to facebook as I took them. Allowing his relatives that could not be there, to watch what was happening in almost realtime.

Remember, this was before FaceTIme or live streaming was a thing, and camera phones were pretty crappy.

OK, got it, but your device (laptop/phone) had to be connected to the internet (provided by something else than Eye-Fi card)

 

[USAFRet]

OK, got it, but your device (laptop/phone) had to be connected to the internet (provided by something else than Eye-Fi card)

Yes.

The EyeFi speaks wifi, not "internet".
(rather, it DID, before the company went stupid)