Forbes is reporting that Georgia Tech researchers have discovered an exploit where malware could be introduced to your computer through the plug in AC power charger.
Based on their proof of concept, when you connect your computer and electrical plug, you could get more than an electrical charge to your Apple iOS computer--you could get hacked!
The malicious charger has been named Mactans and in the future could be put together by inserting a miniature computer board (e.g. a BeagleBoard) right into the base of a charger plug (larger than the one shown above).
The hack attack is enabled by the USB port which is used for charging and doubles as a data port so that the malicious code would be surreptitiously inserted into your computer.
So be careful what you plug into, because when you think you're just powering up your battery, you may end up powering down your whole computer device.
This sort of reminds me of the shoe bomber that forever changed how we view seemingly innocuous shoes at the airport.
A shoe may not just be for walking, and a AC charger may not be just a power source anymore. ;-)
(Source Photo: here with attribution to Lee Bennett)
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