Researchers have figured out how to hack a wireless charger to fry your phone and heat objects around it to 280°C, so that's just wonderful

HardwareResearchers have figured out how to hack a wireless charger to fry your phone and heat objects around it to 280°C, so that’s just wonderfulWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

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(Image credit: Andy Edser)

A Samsung S21+ on a wireless charger next to a bedside table

Aside from the dangers of burning paper via an electronic attack, perhaps the most impressive result was the car key fob tested, as it managed to get so hot that it exploded its own battery. Should such an attack be carried out in a home setting, it’s easy to see how it could lead to catastrophic damage, and potentially even the loss of life.

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The final method relies on voice assistants like Apple’s Siri or Google Assistant. The researchers were able to inject voice commands into a device through the use of a transmitted noise signal emitted over a charging station’s range.

While they were able to perform tasks like initiating a phone call or launching apps on the targeted device, the use of this attack is limited, as a potential attacker would need to record activation commands and then modify the power adapters output signals which the team admits is no easy task. Still, as a proof of concept?Concern.

That being said, the purpose of this testing is not to enable would-be-attackers to think of new ways to manipulate these devices, but to encourage manufacturers to think more deeply about potential misuse. The researchers showed their findings to the manufacturers of the charging stations used, so we can only hope that they take their findings seriously, and will take steps to mitigate the possibility of this sort of attack in future designs.

For now, I’ll still trust my bedside table charger. But I’m watching you closely, my little friend. One false move, and it’s back to cables for me.

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