this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2026
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WebUSB is absurd and shouldn't exist. Web apps should not ever be able to work with USB devices! The core concept is wrong!
A website shouldn't even be allowed to know if I have a USB port at all, let alone anything else about my hardware. I'm not even convinced it should be allowed to know the viewport size of the browser window! All these APIs just make the attack surface fucking gargantuan and open up infinite opportunities for browser fingerprinting. They should be Considered Harmful and abolished.
It is super helpful for flashing a pixel to GrapheneOS, especially for non technical folk
If they managed to install chrome and finding their way to grapheneos they can manage installing another program for flashing.
The convenience of webusb is pretty overrated, id rather have my browser not tell any site everything asked and more.
You don't have to use it.
until google, microsoft, and all the big companies decide everything should be hosted and owned by them. having a browser do everything you can do locally is the first step to locking down the OS so everything can be subscription based. these giants love being able to use standards as a way to kill competition.