How can your phone be detonated remotely?

Wireless chargers are convenient and easy to use, but they can pose a significant fire risk if hacked by malicious actors.

A team of security experts at the University of Florida and cybersecurity auditing firm CertiK indicated that there are hypothetical scenarios for a certain category of cyber attacks that could cause a smartphone to catch fire via its wireless charger.

Through a study published by arXiv magazine, the team revealed how a simple device can tamper with the charging process and cause your phone to overheat or catch fire.

Experts called the attacks VoltSchemer, which targets vulnerabilities in wireless charging systems, as it involves connecting a small device to the wireless charger's AC adapter.

This device can then interfere with the connection between the charger and the phone and send false signals that trick the charger into delivering more power than necessary. This can lead to overcharging, overheating and, in extreme cases, fire.

Experts identified three possible scenarios for VoltSchemer attacks. First, a hacker could use the device to send inaudible voice commands to the phone's voice assistant and perform malicious actions such as stealing information or making unauthorized purchases. Second, a hacker could damage the phone or charger by causing them to overheat or explode. Third, a hacker could bypass the wireless charger's foreign object detection mechanism and expose nearby objects, such as credit cards or keys, to intense magnetic fields, potentially damaging them.

Wireless chargers use electromagnetic induction to transfer energy from the transmitting coil in the charger to the receiving coil in the phone. To ensure safe and efficient charging, the charger and phone communicate through the Qi communication-based feedback control system, which regulates the charger's power output based on the battery level and phone temperature.

However, this communication system is not secure and can be easily disabled by the VoltSchemer device.

VoltSchemer attacks work through a technique known as “intentional electromagnetic interference” (IEMI), which allows attackers to change the input voltage of wireless chargers.

This change can lead to a range of harmful consequences, from introducing inaudible voice commands to smartphones to causing physical damage due to overheating. It is worth noting that the attack does not require modifications to the hardware or software, which makes access to it a cause for concern.

Experts tested several wireless chargers and phones from different brands and models, and found that they were all vulnerable to VoltSchemer attacks. 

Experts informed manufacturers of wireless chargers and phones about the security flaws. Their work will raise awareness of the potential dangers of wireless charging and motivate the industry to adopt better security measures to protect consumers from VoltSchemer attacks.

They also suggest some potential countermeasures, such as encrypting the connection between the charger and phone, adding physical or software switches to the charger to limit power output, and improving thermal management of the phone and charger. They also advise users to be careful when using wireless chargers and avoid using them in public places or near flammable materials.

China beginning the production of a diamond segment used in the weapons industry

The Chinese newspaper "South China Morning Post" reported that a team of Chinese scientists discovered a new way to make a slice of diamond to produce high-performance chips that can be used in the manufacture of weapons.

The newspaper quoted the head of the team of scientists at the Chinese government electronic group CETC as saying that the new chips, as semiconductors, have excellent performance, including high power and frequency, as well as very low power consumption. It has promising potential for use in the field of solid-state microwaves of a new generation.

Chinese scientists used artificially grown diamonds as a chip to make a gallium nitride semiconductor device, increasing the system's efficiency by 30%. It was previously thought that due to the different physical and chemical properties of gallium nitride and diamond, it was technically difficult to combine them.

The researchers used a new engineering method based on increasing artificial diamonds on the surface of gallium nitride while avoiding the formation of graphite impurities in the diamond.

The newspaper said that this discovery will greatly increase the efficiency of weapons electronics, including promising microwave emitters used for military purposes.

In early February 2024, it became known that China had invented the world's first high-energy microwave weapon using the Stirling engine. Moreover, the use of semiconductor devices with a diamond chip will increase the effectiveness of this type of weapon. In addition, these semiconductors could be used in processors for future generations as well as in quantum computers.