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What Is the O.MG Charging Cable? Definition, Capabilities and Limits

The O.MG Cable is a Hak5 USB cable with a concealed implant that charges and passes data like a normal USB 2.0 cable while dormant, and can inject input when activated. Here is what the vendor says it does, and where the claims stop.
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The O.MG Cable is a USB cable made by Hak5 that contains a concealed electronic implant. Hak5 says that while the implant is dormant, the cable behaves as a normal USB 2.0 cable and can pass data and charge a device. When the implant is activated, the cable can inject keystrokes or mouse input and offer other features that depend on the tier and firmware. Hak5 sells it as a red-team tool for emulating attack scenarios, testing defensive detection, and security training, so it is best understood as a covert security-testing device that looks like an ordinary charging cable, not as a charger.

What the O.MG cable is

The O.MG Cable is a physical product, not a software term or a generic name for a charger. Hak5 describes it as a hand-made USB cable with an advanced implant hidden inside. The implant can emulate input devices so that a connected computer receives keystroke or mouse payloads. The cable also has a Wi-Fi interface that Hak5 describes as providing control features. Hak5’s product page describes the cable’s purpose in its own words: “It is designed to allow your Red Team to emulate attack scenarios of sophisticated adversaries.” That wording comes from the vendor’s listing and does not name an individual author.

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How it differs from an ordinary USB cable

The key distinction is between the cable’s dormant behavior and its active behavior. In its dormant state, Hak5 says every O.MG cable works as a standard USB 2.0 cable, with 480 Mbps data transfer and a maximum charge of 5 V. Hak5’s firmware documentation adds that the active end must be connected to a USB host, and to a 5 V maximum charge source, for passthrough charging to work. In other words, the charging function is real, but it is limited to what a standard 5 V USB connection provides.

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These are vendor specifications. They have not been confirmed by independent testing in the sources available for this article, so they should be read as Hak5’s stated design values rather than measured results.

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Basic and Elite tiers compared

Hak5 currently lists two tiers, Basic (Gen 1) and Elite (Gen 3). Both include keystroke and mouse injection, self-destruct, geofencing, and Wi-Fi triggers. The differences are mainly in payload capacity, speed, and the extra features that come only with Elite. Hak5 states that all of these specifications are based on devices running its latest beta firmware, and that they may change.

Feature (as listed by Hak5) Basic (Gen 1) Elite (Gen 3)
Keystroke scripting language DuckyScript 2 DuckyScript 3
Payload slots 8 50 to 300
Maximum keystrokes per payload 4,000 1,500,000
Listed keystroke speed 120 keys per second 890 keys per second
Keystroke and mouse injection, self-destruct, geofencing, Wi-Fi triggers Included Included
FullSpeed USB hardware keylogger Not listed Listed
HIDX StealthLink Not listed Listed
Encrypted network command and control Not listed Listed
Extended Wi-Fi range and stealth-optimized power draw Not listed Listed

Treat these figures as vendor-listed capabilities. The Hak5 product page is the place to check for revisions, since the tier details can change with firmware.

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Setup components and variants

  • Activation and recovery tool: Hak5 describes the O.MG Programmer as the tool used to activate devices that ship deactivated, to install firmware upgrades, and to recover a device after a lockout. It is a separate physical product from the cable.
  • Browser-based flashing: Hak5’s product page says its WebFlasher works in browsers that support WebSerial, such as Chrome and Edge. An alternate Python flasher is also offered.
  • Cable length: The standard cable is listed at one meter. Hak5 also lists a custom version of about two meters, which it describes as otherwise identical.
  • Configurable options: Listings vary the active end, the passthrough end, the connector, the color, and the material. Check the live listing for the options available at the time of purchase.

Intended use and legal limits

Hak5 presents the cable for authorized red-team simulation, security detection testing, and education. Hak5’s official payload repository says its hardware is intended for authorized auditing and security analysis where permitted. A vendor listing does not grant permission to use the device against anyone else’s equipment. Any deployment should happen only inside a clearly authorized assessment or training environment with a written scope. Using a covert input device against a system you do not have permission to test can be a criminal offense in many jurisdictions.

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What is and is not established

  • The product’s identity, its vendor, and its stated purpose are established by Hak5’s own product pages and documentation.
  • The dormant pass-through behavior, the 480 Mbps and 5 V figures, and the tier specifications are vendor claims. Independent testing of them was not found in the sources reviewed for this article.
  • Specifications are tied to Hak5’s latest beta firmware, so a device running an older or newer build may behave differently.
  • Current purchase options, pricing, and retail availability can change, and this article does not cover them.

If you need the exact configuration of a particular unit, or the current tier details, consult Hak5’s live listings and firmware documentation directly.

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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