This Device Protects Your Computer From Malicious USB Devices

This Device Protects Your Computer From Malicious USB Devices

 

Any USB device, such as memory, keyboards, and mouse, can be a threat to your computer, as they can hide hidden malware inside that will infect your computer when you connect them. To avoid this problem, Robert Fisk, a New Zealand engineer, has developed USG, a device that works as a firewall and protects your PC against malicious USB devices.
USB drives threats are not only found in files and malicious data. In 2014 it was discovered BadUSB, a malware that is stored in the device’s own firmware so that it can infect the computer even when new and empty. In addition, as Fisk points out, antivirus programs are not able to detect it, since the malicious code is located directly on the controller, so, it is simply out of the scope of the security software scanner.

However, USG can protect you against these types threats. This is a plug-and-play device that works as a USB hardware firewall and is very easy to use: all you have to do is just plug it into the computer and then plug the USB device into the enabled connector, just like you can See in the image below.

In case the connected device is not trusted, USG will simply block it, preventing it from running malicious code to infect the computer. It has an open and auditable firmware, so unlike preloaded firmware, you can rely on it
Moreover, USG supports mass storage units, keyboards, and mouse, and it is compatible with all operating systems: Windows, MacOS and Linux. If you want to use this device to protect your equipment from BadUSB, Fisk sells it through its GitHub at a price of 80 New Zealand dollars (which is about 55 to 56 US dollars at current exchange rate). In addition, advanced users also have the possibility to build it themselves just by following the indications that the developer offers in this link.

So, what do you think about this USB firewall? Simply share your views and thoughts in the comment section below.