Voltschemer could cause your phone to explode, but what’s the likelihood of that actually happening?
What Is VoltSchemer?
The idea is that an attacker can manipulate your phone in specific ways while it sits atop your charger.
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This could cause the phone to break, suffer data loss, or even pose a severe fire risk.
It’s important to note that VoltSchemer was invented and tested by researchers, not criminals.
At the time of writing, there has yet to be a real-world example of a VoltSchemer attack.
VoltSchemer: Use Voltage Noise to Manipulate Your Wireless Charger
How Does VoltSchemer Work?
VoltSchemer works through a compromised power outlet modified to tweak the voltage it delivers to the wireless charger.
Researchers managed some impressive things with this discovery.
VoltSchemer: Use Voltage Noise to Manipulate Your Wireless Charger
However, the voltage modification attack interrupts how the phone talks to the wireless charger.
To do this, the researchers made a voltage signal that did two things.
The voltage noise would block this and tell the charger to keep going.
VoltSchemer: Use Voltage Noise to Manipulate Your Wireless Charger
The charger continued charging even when the phone shut itself down due to overheating.
And yes,smartphone batteries can explodeif incorrectly handled.
Paper clips would overheat, potentially igniting any documents they’re attached to.
VoltSchemer: Use Voltage Noise to Manipulate Your Wireless Charger
USB and SDD drives suffered damage and memory loss, and passports with RFID tags had their data destroyed.
As a result, the key fob didnt merely overheat.
Instead, it detonated and caused the disintegration of the unit in an explosive display.
How Likely Is a VoltSchemer Attack?
It’s scary to think your phone could become a miniature explosive machine.
Modified Power Outlets
To start, VoltSchemer attacks cannot be carried out remotely.
The attacker must modify the power outlet to output the specific voltage required for the attack to work.
As such, the attacker must physically drop your home and change your sockets for Voltschemer to work.
VoltSchemer doesn’t aid the attacker in any way; they risk capture for potentially making your phone hot.
If someone gains access to your home, they’d get more value from stealing your phone.
At least then, they’ll have hardware and data to sell, which makes the venture worthwhile.
As such, you should focus onbeating smartphone thievesrather than preparing for a VoltSchemer attack.
In the real world, it’d be extremely difficult for someone to recreate the attack themselves.
