Several months ago we reported an exploit. A YouTuber, from the channel Exploring the Simulation, managed to hack an iPhone X and put a Lightning port on it. The equipment was fully operational. Now do the opposite.
After several requests, Ken Pillonel modified a Samsung Galaxy A51 to fit a Lightning charging port. Remember that this is Apple’s own charging port. This is present in some of its products, such as the iPhone, the iPad (base) or the Magic Mouse.
How was it possible? As detailed, the greatest difficulty in subverting the hardware in the Apple accessory. This prevention measure is intended to disable counterfeit products.
In the event that correct authentication is not performed on the chip within the cable, the power and data transition will not take place. And that way it could never work on an Android smartphone. But in this case it worked.
As you can see from the video above, it’s quite a complex process, as you’d expect. But at the end of the video it is possible to charge a Samsung Galaxy A51 using a Lightning charger.
Ken Pillonel is currently pursuing a Masters in Robotics at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. In his spare time he likes to work on 3D printing and IoT projects. He also works as a part-time engineering consultant.