Post #3548537
2026-07-03 01:33 UTC
@yrabbit@mastodon.sdf.org My understanding is it's mostly irrelevant, but there is a mux needed to route some stuff (the usb2?) in the right direction so it needs to know the orientation - I don't think there's a software reason to know it?
(and I have heard of miswired devices where the orientation does make a difference when they forgot to wire one copy of the usb2 wires I think).
Now the fun idea is libpam-usb-direction to only allow you to login if you plugged your key in the right way up :-)
Replies (1)
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@vathpela@infosec.exchange 2026-07-03 03:43
@penguin42@mastodon.org.uk @yrabbit@mastodon.sdf.org iirc it's slightly crazier than that - it's not symmetric. it fits either way, but different pins attach in a different order (the standard length thing basically) and the pin definitions are more or less negotiated after insertion.