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The O.MG Cable looks and works like a USB cable, but Hak5 says it contains a concealed implant that can inject keystrokes and, depending on the tier, provide additional capabilities. Its legitimate purpose is authorized security testing and training: it lets defenders examine how a seemingly ordinary cable could be abused and how to detect that behavior. That makes it a useful security tool—not a cable to treat as a harmless charging accessory.

What is an O.MG Cable?

Hak5 describes the O.MG Cable as a handmade USB cable with an advanced implant hidden inside. The device is intended for red-team exercises, defensive detection testing, teaching, and training—not as an ordinary consumer cable. Hak5’s product description says it is designed to let a red team emulate sophisticated adversary scenarios and help defense teams test detection opportunities. Hak5’s product page is the primary source for its current specifications.

The key distinction is that it is not simply a charging cable with a security label. Hak5 says inactive configurations pass USB 2.0 data at 480 Mbps and provide up to 5 V charging. In other words, normal-looking charging and data behavior do not establish that a cable is charge-only.

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How does the O.MG Cable work?

When inactive, Hak5 says the cable behaves like a USB 2.0 cable, supporting data transfer and charging. When activated, its implant can perform keystroke injection and mouse injection, according to the manufacturer. In practical terms, a host may recognize a USB device as a human-interface device, so the security concern is not limited to power or file transfer.

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Capabilities vary by tier. Hak5’s current comparison lists keystroke and mouse injection across tiers; its Elite tier also lists a FullSpeed USB hardware keylogger, HIDX StealthLink, and encrypted network command-and-control. Honeywell Industrial Cybersecurity has separately discussed O.MG Cable as an example of a malicious cable that can appear as a human-interface device and expose a computer to remote attacks over Wi-Fi. That paper is threat context, not a current product manual.

How do the Basic and Elite specifications compare?

The following figures are Hak5-published specifications accessed in 2026, not independent performance measurements. Hak5 says the listed specifications are based on devices using the latest beta firmware and may change without notice.

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HAK5 O.MG Plug Basic Security Tool OMG Socket
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Specification Basic (Gen 1) Elite (Gen 3)
Payload slots 8 50–300
Maximum listed payload speed 120 keys per second 890 keys per second
Maximum listed payload size 4,000 keystrokes 1,500,000 keystrokes
FullSpeed USB hardware keylogger Not listed Listed
HIDX StealthLink Not listed Listed
Encrypted network C2 Not listed Listed

These numbers describe the manufacturer’s current published tiers; they should not be read as independently verified results or guaranteed performance in every setup. The cited product page does not establish current prices or availability.

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Why would a security team keep one?

A controlled red-team exercise can help an organization test whether its endpoint controls, USB policies, monitoring, and staff procedures notice a device that looks ordinary but behaves like an input device. The value is in testing defenses against a plausible class of threat, then using the results to improve detection and handling.

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That is also why the cable belongs only in authorized, controlled work. Hak5 says it ships deactivated and identifies its O.MG Programmer as the tool for activation, firmware upgrades, or recovery after lockout. Its product page describes the programmer as universal across O.MG devices; confirm current compatibility and availability with Hak5 before relying on it. Do not connect or deploy an implant-equipped cable on systems or networks without explicit authorization.

Can a USB cable hack your computer?

A malicious cable can be more than a passive wire: a device that presents itself as a human-interface device may send input to a connected host. The O.MG Cable is a concrete example of that risk, but its existence does not mean every unfamiliar cable is malicious or that any cable can automatically take over any computer. The sources cited here do not establish how often O.MG Cables are used in real-world attacks or the probability that a random charging cable is hostile.

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NIST’s Mobile Threat Catalogue describes the broader risk of a compromised computer exploiting a trusted USB connection to a mobile device. Its advice is practical: when charging a phone, avoid connecting it directly to a computer and prefer a simple corded charger obtained from the device vendor. These are general precautions, not findings from a NIST test of the O.MG Cable. See NIST’s PHY-2 entry, “Device Attack via PC Connection”.

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How can you reduce risk when charging a phone?

  • Prefer a wall charger: NIST recommends avoiding a direct computer connection for charging and using a simple corded charger obtained from the device vendor.
  • Use a cable you trust: A cable that looks ordinary is not proof that it is charge-only. If you need to use a shared or unfamiliar USB port, a reputable charge-only cable or data blocker can reduce exposure to data connections, but it is not a guarantee against every USB attack. Check that any accessory supports your device and connector.
  • Turn off Android USB debugging when you are not using it: NIST includes this as a general precaution for mobile devices.
  • Keep the device with you: NIST also advises physically securing an unattended device.

These steps address general USB and device-security risks; they do not constitute a product-specific test or guarantee.

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