WEMAGIN: INTERNET PRIVACY GADGET

[cybergibbons]

This rather dubious privacy gadget has appeared on Kickstarter. This is the third project we've criticise in the last month due to really outlandish claims.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1052775620/wemagin-smart-usb-drive

I've written a fairly lengthy blog post about why their claims are dubious. Really the first 4 points are all you need to know, but read the rest if you want to see some fairly strange behaviour:
http://cybergibbons.com/security-2/why-does-the-wemagin-internet-privacy-gadget-look-like-snake-oil/

[wraper]

Privacy gadget where you need to login to web service each time... It's like tracking all of your activity every time.

[PlainName]

the first 4 points are all you need to know

I think you've missed a trick with point 3 (potentially - I doubt if they are doing this, but it is at least feasible).

You say that to use a VPN you need to run something on the pC, but you don't. The USB stick can have onboard processing sufficient to set up a VPN tunnel, and then present it's interface to the PC (or tablet or whatever) as a USB network interface. Thus the processing is done on the stick for VPN, a normal USB network driver is all that's needed on the PC.

Of course, the stick will require access to a network. If it is WiFi then it's all sorted, otherwise... dunno, but I think your point 3 would be relevant then

[cybergibbons]

That wouldn't align with the videos they show and what they claim to do though. They show a browser running, and VPN command software running on the machine somehow. You'd also have to be able to create a USB network adapter which is not possible on most PCs.

[wraper]

the first 4 points are all you need to know

You say that to use a VPN you need to run something on the pC, but you don't. The USB stick can have onboard processing sufficient to set up a VPN tunnel, and then present it's interface to the PC (or tablet or whatever) as a USB network interface. Thus the processing is done on the stick for VPN, a normal USB network driver is all that's needed on the PC.

They use usual of the shelf Chinese USB flash. http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/waterproof-function-oem-usb-flash-drive_610324680.html

[PlainName]

That wouldn't align with the videos...

Yes, fair enough. I was just making the point that it doesn't have to be that way, so it shouldn't be a showstopper.

[mikerj]

I can't believe how blatant they are with their astroturfing

If you were in the business of cheating people, surely you'd make some attempt at posting positive comments that aren't obviously from the team promoting the product?

[cybergibbons]

Yeah, it's very odd. Unfortunately no concrete proof.

But it's great fun winding them up.