Chrome OS to Block USB Access When the Computer Screen Is Locked

Chrome OS to Block USB Access When Locked

As you know, in addition to the Microsoft operating system, Google, another tech giant has also its OS called Chrome OS (this company’s web-based operating system) for its Chromebooks. It is reported that this company plans to upgrade the defense of its Chrome OS.

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According to a recent report in Chrome Story, Google is working on a new feature that will disable the USB ports of a machine that is running the Chrome OS. By this way, the feature can prevent the Chromebooks from third-party attacks as long as they keep locked.

Here is more!

Chrome OS USB Blocking Feature

Just recently, persons at Chrome Story found an internal flag when digging into a Chrome OS source code. And the flag revealed a new feature dubbed USBGuard that will disable newly connected USB devices on the lock screen.

The description of this feature suggested that it would prevent the operation of any newly plugged in USB-based device unless the problematic Chromebook is unlocked.

Already Connected USB Devices Will Continue to Work

There is one point you should notice and that is USBGuard feature will only block USB access for new devices but the devices that have been already like Mouse and Keyboard will continue to work.

Google took this precaution to prevent Chromebooks from unauthorized access like Rubber Ducky-type of attacks. Attackers use a malicious USB thumb drive and plug into a computer to mimic a keyboard to run malicious commands.

Besides, this can also protect devices from malicious attackers who may plug malware-fed USB drives like BadUSB, PoisonTap, USBdriveby, or USBHarpoon into a Chromebook to infect it or retrieve data.

But if the machine won’t read or execute commands from the USB drive, it cannot get damaged.

Put Certain Devices into White List for Access

Be that as it may, you also need to notice that Chrome OS USBGuard feature might also come with an option which can put certain USB devices into the whitelist for access.

There is another flag spotted along with the main feature, indicating this capability. This can let you keep the USB access enabled for certain devices including Keyboard, Mouse and your own USB flash drive.

To sum up, all of these things can upgrade Chromebooks security to make them much safer.

Final Words

So far, there is no word yet when Google will roll out these features on a stable version of Chrome OS. But currently, the USBGuard feature is available in Chrome OS Canary builds and is expected to land in the stable branch of Chrome OS in the next few months.

If this appears, you are able to enable this feature for access by modifying the following Chrome OS flag: chrome://flags/#enable-usbguard.

Now all the information about this news Chrome OS to disable USB access on the lock screen is told to you. If you are interested in this feature, just pay attention to Chrome OS.