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Apple Releases Urgent Software Patch for USB Vulnerability

Apple Releases Urgent Software Patch for USB Vulnerability

Trouble in paradise? Apple released a security update to fix an issue which may expose a security risk. The security risk stems from the USB protocol.

Apple isn’t sharing details about who is being targeted, no surprise there.

The vulnerability, known as CVE-2025-24200, could allow someone with physical access to an iPhone to turn off USB Restricted Mode, even if the device is locked.

USB Restricted Mode is the highest probability of having your device exposed to the security risk. The “restricted mode” is a security feature that stops unauthorized people from accessing an iPhone’s data through the lightning port. When this feature is on, the port only allows charging if the phone has been locked for more than an hour. This makes it harder for hackers to break into a locked phone without the correct login information.

The update is available for iPhone XS and newer models, as well as several iPad models, including iPad Pro 13-inch, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (third generation and later), iPad Pro 11-inch (first generation and later), iPad Air (third generation and later), iPad (seventh generation and later), and iPad mini (fifth generation and later).

If you have one of these devices, please update your software as soon as possible. You can check for updates in your device settings.

These types of security flaws are often used by spyware companies, like Pegasus, to spy on specific people. The average user isn’t at risk right now since the details of the attack haven’t been shared publicly. However, if they do get published, criminals could copy the method, making updates even more important.

A cyberattack on a mobile device happens when hackers try to gain access to a smartphone or tablet to steal information, take control, or cause harm. These attacks can occur in different ways, including malicious apps, phishing scams, security flaws, or even physical access to the device.

Malware is one of the most common threats, where harmful software is installed to steal data, track activity, or take over the device. Phishing attacks trick users into providing personal information or login credentials through fake emails, messages, or websites.

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What is ChromeOS Flex?

What is ChromeOS Flex

We focus so much on USB here at GetUSB.info that we often overlook other technologies such as portable browsers or new browsers. Today, and I’m sure we are much behind the 8Ball, we talked about What is ChromeOS Flex.

ChromeOS Flex is a lightweight, cloud-based operating system developed by Google, designed to be efficient and compatible with older Windows and Mac computers. ChromeOS Flex is free for everyone. It is different than a Chromebook operating system because the Chromebook OS is designed to work on Android. However; ChromeOS Flex is specifically designed to work with Windows and Mac computers only.

This free alternative is web based and provides a streamlined, secure, and manageable experience. Based on the cloud infrastructure of Google this makes it inviting for personal or corporate users to make the most of their older PCs without having to do hardware upgrades or updates. Web-based applications and cloud computing is very common these days, if not more common than standalone operating systems. ChromeOS Flex offers a modern solution tailored for users who primarily work within an internet-based environment.

One of the key advantages of ChromeOS Flex is its efficiency. Unlike traditional operating systems that can slow down over time due to software bloat, background processes, and frequent updates requiring manual intervention, ChromeOS Flex is designed to run smoothly on older hardware. It boots up quickly, typically within seconds, and operates with minimal system requirements, making it particularly useful for devices that have become sluggish over the years. Google is saying the computer OS can boot as quickly as six seconds. We like the sound of that. Because the OS is cloud-based, much of the processing is offloaded to the internet rather than being handled by the device itself and this is why ChromeOS Flex seems to be a great fit for older hardware.

Google is saying security is another big reason to use ChromeOS Flex. Google has built the operating system with a focus on protection against malware, ransomware, and other cyber threats. We still think Google is looking to glean information off your user habits and browsing habits, so although secure, we are sure there is some ancillary benefit Google is getting from offering up this free OS.

Unlike Windows and macOS, which often require third-party antivirus software to maintain security, ChromeOS Flex includes built-in security features such as sandboxing, verified boot, and automatic background updates that ensure the system is always running the latest, most secure version. Sandboxing isolates applications and processes so that even if a vulnerability is exploited, it does not affect the entire system. Verified boot further enhances security by checking for system integrity at startup, preventing any tampered or malicious software from loading. These features make ChromeOS Flex particularly appealing for businesses and educational institutions where data security is a top priority.

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USB Mass Storage Device Protocol – What Is It

The USB Mass Storage Device Protocol defines how USB devices which are attached to a host computer should interact (such as flash drives, external hard drives, and memory cards) and this protocol is critical for allowing stuff to talk with each other in the computer world. Here’s a breakdown of its core components:

In order for a USB flash drives to work interchangeably with other devices a universal standard must be created, defined and implemented for both device manufactures (the flash drives) and the host manufacturers (what flash drives are plugged into). The “Mass Storage Device” is the more technical term for what a USB flash drive is ( or USB hard drive or other memory storage device ) classified as. The classification spells out how communication works between the host computer and USB device.

The following information is a general outline and meant for non-technical readers to better understand the USB Mass Storage Device is. A link at the bottom will direct readers to a more technical resource, say someone reading up from a computer science class.

Let us start with the “Device Class and Protocol”

USB Mass Storage Device Protocol - What Is It

As mentioned the Mass Storage Class (also known as MSC) is a set of specifications which define a standardized way the USB device will present itself and communicate with the host (what it is plugged into); for example a computer, smartphone a car stereo or even the USB socket you find on a passenger plane. All of these “hosts” must conform to a specific way to communicate with the device.

Although we mention the USB socket of a plane, that particular situation doesn’t require “data transfer” and it’s only meant for power; although a specification is still required even when only dealing with power and/or charging. With that said, the most common protocol used for MSC devices is the “Bulk Only Transport” or BOT. The BOT is a method defining how data is either read or written from one device to the other. The BOT is designed to be fast and optimize data transfer while at the same time providing a reliable and stable code base for transferring data.

As a side note, the BOT was improved with UASP. The newer UASP (USB Attached SCSI Protocol) was introduced for the USB 3.0+ speed of devices. The UASP improves the older BOT by allowing faster data transfer rates and better performance to the devices which support the newer UASP.

So whether the host and attached device, say a USB flash drive, use BOT or UASP the commands used come from the SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) protocol. This protocol was developed in the late 1970s and ultimately introduced to the public for use in 1986. So the SCSI protocol has been around for a very long time.

One pillar of the SCSI protocol is the “block device” appearance of a device connected to a computer. This block device approach helps organize data and allows the two to communicate in blocks. Remember the most basic, 1024? the block device approach allows data transfer to work more efficiently and organized than other approaches.

The Mass Storage Device specification will classify data transfer speeds. This type of classification will setup the host computer and device on the best method to communicate. This is important because you want to define a Mass Storage Device’s ability to transmit data, during either the read or write operation, to an optimal speed for best performance. So for example, you don’t want a USB 3.0 hard drive communicating with the host computer at USB 2.0 speeds. The classification for data transfer will sync up the proper protocol.

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USB-C Cable Tester Sets the Bar High

Review: USB-C cable tester by BLE caberQU

USB-C cable tester by BLE caberQU

USB-C has firmly established itself as the universal connector standard, integrating data transfer, power delivery, and video output into a single interface. With so many cables on the market, knowing which ones truly deliver on their promises can be challenging. That’s where the BLE caberQU comes in, a great USB-C cable tester that provide all the details one would need.

We can break down the need to test USB-C cables into five categories; and it’s worth noting if you are going to spend good money on a device, monitor or other peripheral, isn’t it worth a bit effort to make sure the cable connecting it all works at the highest level?

Of course the block buster category is USB-C Data Transfer Speed. Different USB-C cables support different data transfer rates. For example, some cables are USB 2.0 (480 Mbps), while others may support USB 3.1 or USB 3.2 (up to 10 or 20 Gbps). Testing ensures you’re getting the expected performance, especially when transferring large files or using external storage devices.

The BLE caberQU excels in its core functions. It provides a reliable way to test USB-C cables for data speed, charging power, and overall health. The LED indicators offer a clear and immediate visual representation of pin connectivity, which simplifies the testing process. The LCD screen takes things further, delivering detailed metrics on data speed of the cable being tested.

The second most important category is Compatibility. Not all USB-C cables are created equally. Some might not be compatible with high-speed protocols like Thunderbolt 3 or 4, which can impact both data transfer rates and compatibility with devices like monitors or docks. The BLE caberQU provides a systematic way to determine the true connectivity protocol of the cable. Although some cables may give false positive results, it is recommended to test the cable multiple times for Compatibility to insure the BLE caberQU reports the correct value.

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SMI “Displays” Their SoC Technology with SM770 Chipset

SMI Displays Their SoC Technology with SM770 Chipset

SMI ( Silicon Motion Inc. ) has introduced a new chip which allows for multiple 4K displays to be connected to a single host computer. The SM770 chip is, what SMI calls, a high performance USB Display interface or “SoC”.

Get three concurrent 4K UHD displays running without latency issues from a single host computer source. The new SMI chip features a user-friendly InstantView software application to configure the multi collection of displays. The free software tool effortlessly configures host content for any display without the need for a display driver which is really nice to avoid future driver update issues we are all so keen on trying to avoid.

The SM770’s features include:

  • Support Triple 4K (3840 x 2160) @60Hz, support up to 144Hz display
  • The 2nd generation CAT technology delivers codec with reduced latency
  • USB 3.2 Gen2 (10Gbps)
  • Support displays over USB, Ethernet or Wireless
  • OS compatibility: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and ChromeOS

USB docking stations are now a must-have for many professionals who need to use more than one screen. The new SM770 is made to make using multiple screens much better by reducing delay and improving system efficiency. This new technology helps create high-quality USB docking stations and display adapters which meet the high demands of today’s work environment.

Current the chips are available for samples, but we have yet to see the chip integrated into an end-user product. SMI… if you know of a product ready to buy, do send us an email.

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USB Duplication Service Company, Name Says it all “USBCOPIER.com”

USB Duplication Service

A “USB copy service” means copying data from one USB drive to many other USB drives at the same time. A USB duplication service company is a good resource when the content owner doesn’t have the gear to make many USB copies. Some duplication systems can be more than several thousand dollars, so it would be more economical to higher a service rather than invest in the equipment. Another reason would be a company not having the human resources to run the USB duplication department.

Picking the right USB duplication service is important because the job must be done right, and must be accurate. In addition, the USB copy service should know what to look for with USB flash media; not all USB sticks are made the same and there is a wide range of NAND memory quality which defines how reliable the USB stick will be in holding data and working properly with the end-user. USBCOPIER.com is a service which has been around since 2004 and seen the USB technology develop from USB 1.0 all the way to (currently) USB 3.2.

Great USB Copy Service

USBCOPIER.com is easy to work with, and always available during business hours. 8am to 4pm Pacific Time Zone. They use the best USB duplication technology equipment (Nexcopy) to create and verify the data on USB. This is key if you need to copy very important data.

Fast USB Copying

Being fast is key to hitting time goals. USBCOPIER.com copies USB drives fast, while still being good quality. If you need things done fast, they can help without any worry.

Customizable USB Duplication Solutions

USBCOPIER.com allows for extensive customization in their USB duplication service. They provide a range of

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Is There a Tariff on USB Flash Drives? (As of 2025)

Is here is a tariff on USB flash drives, = yes

Yes, there is a tariff on USB flash drives coming from China.

Two tariffs have been assigned to the USB flash drive category when importing product from China since 2020.

The first tariff was assigned during Trump’s first term in office at a rate of 7.5% percent which started February 2020.

The second tariff was assigned during Trump’s second term in office at a rate of 10% percent which started January 2025.

The total tariff amount is currently 17.5% for all USB flash drives imported from China into the United States.

Is this bad? Mostly YES and a little no.

A big yes because any tariff assigned to a product during important is affectively a “tax” on the product. This is true for whether the item is being important from China or any other country.

A little “no” because the United States has a trade deficient in relationship to China. By instituting a tariff on imported goods, in theory, is supposed to encourage US suppliers to manufacture product in the United States.

Many economists argue about tariffs. Mostly that tariffs are harmful to the US economy because they increase costs for consumers and businesses while disrupting global trade. Many U.S. manufacturers rely on imported raw materials and components (such as semiconductors, steel, and electronic parts) to produce finished goods. Higher input costs make American businesses less competitive, potentially leading to job losses and slower economic growth.

Tariffs can also provoke retaliatory measures from trading partners, harming US exporters by making their goods more expensive and less competitive in foreign markets. While tariffs are often intended to encourage domestic manufacturing, they may not be effective in reshoring production. Many industries have deeply integrated global supply chains, making it difficult and expensive to shift production back to the US.

For example, there are no major players, such as Kingston, Western Digital, Nexcopy or Micron who manufacture USB flash drive memory inside the United States. These manufacturers use contract factories in China to produce the goods.

Even if these companies had manufacturing capabilities in the United States the NAND memory required to make the product would need to be imported from China. Since the NAND memory makes up 90% of the USB flash drive product cost, the advantage to move manufacturing to the US is not profitable. It is less expensive to have end-users foot the tariff bill, than to have manufacturers change their supply chain manufacturing strategy.

Tariffs are an old strategy for international business negotiations. The president who implemented these tariffs does not hold the “art of a deal” but rather, simple and elementary visions for how to negotiate trade deals. Tariffs have been used for centuries as a tool to protect domestic industries, generate government revenue, and influence trade relationships. The theory is, imposing tariffs to shield local businesses from foreign competition and ensure domestic industries could develop without being undercut by cheaper imports is no longer a working theory.

While tariffs remain a common negotiation tool, many economists argue that free trade agreements and international cooperation (such as those under the World Trade Organization) are more effective at fostering long-term economic growth. Instead of imposing tariffs, modern trade deals often focus on reducing barriers, increasing market access, and enforcing fair competition rules, which can lead to more sustainable and mutually beneficial trade relationships.

The above paragraph is a major short coming of the current administration (Trump 2025) and the inability to think at these higher levels and negotiate more detailed agreements will ultimately cost the American consumer hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

What can you do?

There is not much which can be done to avoid or circumvent the tariff imposed. For example, there is no manufacturer inside the United States producing USB drives. The cost to ship product from China to say Taiwan or Mexico and then ship into the US is more expensive than paying the tariff. Looking forward, the “option” any American has is understanding what a tariff is and how that impacts the bottom line for a company or business. Most importantly, to elect officials who are more in-line with consumer protection rather than exercising retaliatory political moves at the expense of American people.

A couple notes:

USB Flash Drive sales are estimated to be 5.47 Billion dollars for 2024. Let’s say the United States purchased only 1% of that amount, the $800 limit on single orders would still not allow manufacturers to “work the system” and avoid paying tariffs by making hundreds of mini shipping orders – there is too much volume coming into the United States to justify making thousands of small orders under $800. Plus, US Customs would certainly catch on to a scheme like that.

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Pros and Cons of the Raspberry Pi USB 3 Hub

It is common to hear Raspberry Pi owners want more USB ports. GetUSB.info just read about them introducing an official 4 port USB hub. Sweet. To note, most Raspberry Pi single-board computers, except for the Raspberry Pi Zero and A+ models, include a built-in USB hub that splits one USB connection into several USB Type-A ports. Just recently they launched the official Raspberry Pi USB 3 Hub, a high-quality USB 3.0 hub that offers four additional USB ports.

This hub includes a single upstream USB 3.0 Type-A connector with an 3 inches (8 cm) built-in cable. The “upstream” port is the socket used to communicate with the host device, which in this case is the Raspberry Pi. It also has four downstream USB 3.0 Type-A ports and can reach data transfer speeds up to 5 Gbps. There’s a USB-C socket for an optional external 3A power supply but that isn’t included with the $12 purchase. Quick note, the downstream port is are the sockets used to communicate with the devices, like a USB flash drive, hard drive, mouse, keyboard, printer, etc.

One driving force on why Raspberry Pi wanted to sponsor their own USB hub is the fact most ‘other’ hubs are just too expensive. One fundamental goal of Raspberry Pi is to provide an unparalleled offering for computer code development and the lowest possible price. Usually, you either pay a high price for a reliable, well-designed product, or you buy a cheaper option that’s unreliable, doesn’t work with various devices, or simply looks bad.

With this hub, there is no “race to the bottom,” where cheap, poor-quality products pushed out better options, and online marketplaces like Amazon became filled with low-quality hubs. To offer a better solution the Raspberry team got together with with Infineon to source a quality hub chip called the CYUSB3304.

Based on user beta testers and user comments here are the pros and cons of the Raspberry Pi USB 3 Hub:

Pros and Cons of the Raspberry Pi USB 3 Hub

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How To: Fix Windows 11 Update Computer Issues

How To:  Fix Windows 11 Update Computer Issues

A recent update to Windows 11 is causing some significant issues for users, leaving many users frustrated and entire sure what to do. How To: Fix Windows 11 Update Computer Issues is a brief summary of the problem below and link to the solution (a Microsoft Windows utility to fix it all) This update, released on 26th September and labelled KB5043145, has led to major problems like your PC freezing, displaying the dreaded “blue screen of death” or becoming caught in a reboot loop where the computer repeatedly tries to restart itself but fails and thus tries again and again.

In addition to the blue-screens, some users report their USB and/or Bluetooth devices suddenly stopped working after installing the update. This includes a wide variety of peripherals such as keyboards, mice, headphones, microphones, memory sticks, and printers. Essentially, anything connected through USB or Bluetooth seems to be vulnerable to these problems.

One member from our team installed the updated and clearly something was broken in the file system, so they ended up restoring the entire PC. Far cry from an update experience. Our guy wasn’t alone, seems plenty of Windows users are seeing the same or similar issues.

Others have also reported issues with network connections, like their Wi-Fi no longer working, as well as problems with certain software programs like VirtualBox which runs Linux type OS subsystems.

If you found yourself dealing with these problems Microsoft advises that its Automatic Repair tool will help if your PC is stuck in a reboot loop. This tool might automatically pop up, allowing you to resolve the issue. For some users, BitLocker recovery can also be used to fix problems caused by the update, according to Microsoft’s support page.

Microsoft implemented a fix through its Known Issue Rollback (KIR) service, which is designed to undo the effects of problematic updates without requiring a manual uninstall. This tweak might help in automatically resolving these issues for many users. However, if your computer is still not operating correctly, Microsoft suggests attempting a system restart, which could trigger the automatic repair process and potentially get your PC back on track.

We would recomment that until the issues are fully ironed out, it may be worth holding off on installing this particular update, especially if your PC and peripherals are running smoothly as they are. If you’ve already installed it and are experiencing these issues, follow the Microsoft’s troubleshooting steps metioned above about the Automatic Repair Tool might be the best course of action to get everything back to normal.

Godspeed those USB ports and peripherals!

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How Much Memory Prices Have Dropped

How Much Memory Prices Have Dropped

It’s mind blowing to think that storing a terabyte of data used to cost about 100 billion dollars. Nowadays it fits on a $20 flash drive (MSRP is closer to $100)

In 1956, IBM introduced the first hard drive, the IBM 305 RAMAC, which had a storage capacity of about 5 megabytes (MB). The cost of this system was approximately $10,000 per megabyte, meaning the entire system would cost around $50,000 for just 5 MB of storage.

To calculate the cost of 1 terabyte (TB) of memory in 1956 using this rate:

  • 1 TB = 1,024 GB
  • 1 GB = 1,024 MB
  • 1 TB = 1,024 x 1,024 MB = 1,048,576 MB

At $10,000 per MB, the cost of 1 TB would have been:

1,048,576 MB * $10,000/MB = **$10,485,760,000** (over 10 billion dollars)

So, 1 TB of storage would have cost over 10 billion dollars in 1956.

By 2020, the cost of storage had decreased dramatically due to significant technological advancements in the storage industry.

In 2020, the cost of storage was approximately $0.02 per gigabyte, which translates to $0.00002 per megabyte. Using the same calculation as before:

  • 1 TB = 1,024 GB
  • 1 GB = 1,024 MB
  • 1 TB = 1,048,576 MB

At $0.00002 per MB, the cost of 1 TB in 2020 would have been:

1,048,576 MB * $0.00002/MB = **$20.97**

So, 1 TB of storage would have cost around $21 in 2020.

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10 Reasons for Dracal’s Environmental USB Monitoring System

The PTH200 from Dracal Tech has lots of benefits for tracking the environment and more. Here are 10 great things about using it:

1- Very Accurate The sensors are precise, calibrated, and compensate for temperature. This is important for monitoring exact environmental conditions.

2- Easy to Use The small size makes it simple to add to different systems, even in limited space. This is useful for many different uses.

3- Simple Software Dracal includes an easy-to-use interface and tools for managing the device without needing lots of technical knowledge.

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WHAT IS: DiskPart Clean and/or Clean All Function?

what is, diskpart, clean, clean all

The clean function in DiskPart is a command used to remove all partitions or volumes from a disk, essentially wiping out all existing data on the disk. When you use clean in DiskPart on a particular disk, it performs the following actions:

Removal of Partitions: Deletes all partition or volume structures from the selected disk. This includes removing any partition tables and file systems information – or said another way, removes the format of the drive.

Data Erasure: The clean command deletes the partition table entries and boot code, but does NOT erase any data or overwrite data with random bits. Meaning, after using the clean command a data recovery software package could still recover the data.

Disk Initialization: After executing clean, the disk is left uninitialized. This means that the disk does not have any partitions or volumes, and it appears as raw, unallocated space. In order to use the drive after a DiskPart clean it is required to go into Windows Disk Management tool and assign a new volume to the USB. Once this is done, the device will have a file system (format) and be usable.

The CLEAN function is a nice way to quickly erase the partition and file system to start fresh with a new drive. For example, if an IMG file that is 5GBs large written to a 32GB stick, the problem is that 32GB stick is now only 5GBs large. The remaining space on the USB is unallocated and not usable. To get that unallocated space back, run the DiskPart CLEAN command. You will now have a 32GB drive (after initialization in Disk Management).

The clean all function in DiskPart is similar to the clean function but with an additional step of overwriting the entire disk with zeros. When you use clean all, DiskPart performs the following actions:

Removal of Partitions: Like clean, clean all deletes all partition or volume structures from the selected disk, removing any existing partition tables, file systems, and associated data.

Data Overwriting: In addition to removing the partitions, clean all also writes zeros to every sector of the disk. This process effectively erases all data on the disk by overwriting it with zeros. The purpose of this step is to securely erase the disk’s contents, making data recovery extremely difficult or impossible using standard methods.

Disk Initialization: After executing clean all, the disk is left uninitialized and completely wiped clean. It appears as raw, unallocated space with all previous data erased.

The clean all command is a more secure method of erasing data compared to clean alone, as it ensures that all sectors of the disk are overwritten with zeros. This process takes more time than clean because of the data overwriting step.

TIP: As with clean, it’s crucial to use clean all with care. Verify that you are selecting the correct disk because executing clean all on the wrong disk will result in irreversible data loss.

Ref: DiskPart Wikipedia

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