USB Type-C to Become More Secure With Authentication Standard

The security of USB-based connections and devices is taking a step forward, with the official launch of the USB Type-C Authentication Program on Jan. 2. USB devices have become ubiquitous in modern computing, and in recent years USB Type-C has been introduced on leading notebooks, smartphones and other connected devices because it enables faster data transfer and more power delivery than the larger USB Type-A interface, which has been widely deployed. While USB devices and interfaces have been broadly adopted and used across the computing landscape, they have also introduced new risks, by simply plugging in a malicious USB device. "USB-IF [USB Implementers Forum] is excited to launch the USB Type-C Authentication Program, providing OEMs with the flexibility to implement a security framework that best fits their specific product requirements," USB-IF President and COO Jeff Ravencraft wrote in a media advisory. "As the USB Type-C ecosystem continues to grow, companies can further provide the security that consumers have come to expect from certified USB devices."