Ask HN: Would HN be interested in an adapter, that can prevent BadUSB-attacks?
I am part of a group of 'highschool' students (actually the equivalent of this in Germany) and we are currently searching for ideas for a startup-project, in where we are founding our own little company and try to bring it to some success. Our seed capital is 1000€ gathered through selling shares.
Due to the recent concerns about the abuse of USB devices as attack vector, we were thinking about creating an adapter, which let's you configure, which kind of devices are allowed to connect to it. We only have limited time, so I just skimmed the complexity of the project and we came to the conclusion, that we could do it, though we maybe are maybe only looking at the interfaces and, based on time, money and complexity, not lookup the exact HID-device through usage tables. It will have a small program/driver for atleast Windows and Linux to control as what the device is allowed to connect (multiple inputs possible) and an 'admin mode', so users will only allowed to use certain devices. Maybe we would also add a small button, so you can select it manually on the device.
This device might never happen, because only a few ideas will at the end be selected (we also need people who understand stuff like his), but any opinions or tips (like manufactures, suiting microchips, if we would be able to do it etc) are always appreciated.
Of course, it's a rather big project for on year, and we might be too incompetent, but hope dies last :)