The USB Kill Stick, Priced at $56, Is Designed To Destroy Laptops, PCs, TVs (zdnet.com)

There's a new USB Kill device in the market today which can destroy any device it touches. ZDNet reports: For just a few bucks, you can pick up a USB stick that destroys almost anything that it's plugged into. Laptops, PCs, televisions, photo booths -- you name it. Once a proof-of-concept, the pocket-sized USB stick now fits in any security tester's repertoire of tools and hacks, says the Hong Kong-based company that developed it. It works like this: when the USB Kill stick is plugged in, it rapidly charges its capacitors from the USB power supply, and then discharges -- all in a matter of seconds. On unprotected equipment, the device's makers say it will "instantly and permanently disable unprotected hardware." You might be forgiven for thinking, "Well, why exactly?" The lesson here is simple enough. If a device has an exposed USB port -- such as a copy machine or even an airline entertainment system -- it can be used and abused, not just by a hacker or malicious actor, but also electrical attacks.

Comments

So?

[Hizonner]

Whoopee. I can hit it with a hammer for free, or plug it into the power line for a couple of bucks.

Re:So?

[Spy Handler]

If you put a hammer inside a box marked "Newegg" and send it to someone, upon opening the box he will most like *not* use it to destroy his computer.

But if you do the same thing with a USB stick zapper, there's a pretty good chance that he will stick it in his computer and end up with a fried computer.

Re:So?

[Miamicanes]

Unless the USB hub is optoisolated, that might not be good enough.

Re:So?

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm sure if you explain to the police not to take your stuff and plug it in because it would destroy their equipment, they'd still plug it in anyway and have no one to blame but themselves, legally.

But of course that doesn't stop them from just killing you in retaliation. They know they can get away with murder. In fact they're apparently rewarded for it with big chunks of paid time off, and no criminal charges.

Re:So?

[Kjella]

What if I straight up TELL the border control agent - "This thumbdrive is dangerous and will kill his computer, do not attempt to view the contents?" This is a real honest question. No snark.

Realistically? The moment they hear the word "dangerous" and "kill" it and you will be considered a threat and you'll probably find yourself on the ground in handcuffs real quick. If you're lucky your USB stick will not be destroyed by a bomb disposal robot. After hours of interrogation by the TSA, DHS, FBI and other TLAs you'll find yourself in a holding cell while they make up some hilarious charges of threats, terrorism and whatnot. If you got a good lawyer meaning one you can afford, not one appointed to you maybe after lots of legal wrangling the charges will be dropped. By then you'll probably be fired from any job you had. out $10k+ in lawyer's fees and they'll still be patting themselves on the back for a job well done. And if you counter-sue to recover damages expect every possible legal delay and appeal to make sure by the time you get your settlement you've been dead broke for years. They can afford it, ordinary people can't.

As the saying goes...

[Hognoxious]

If you have physical access to the device, you can beat the fucking shit out of it with a rock.

Re:How is this different from any other form of...

[Obfuscant]

How is this different from any other form of vandalism?

It's not. It's not "security testing", it's not something an honest "security tester" will have in his "toolbox". It's vandalism and destructive behaviour pretending to be respectable activity.

How DARE anyone expose a USB port where something can be plugged in for some legitimate purpose? Those money grubbing airlines who are putting USB charging ports on their seat-back systems so you can power your mobile device while on a four hour flight -- how DARE they! And those charging ports that are starting to show up in the waiting areas for those flights? They deserve to be taught a lesson. Kill anything with a USB port on it. It's "security testing" to see if they can survive. Who cares if the service they were providing goes away?

"Because I can" is not an excuse for destroying other people's property. "TV-B-Gone" is an annoyance; destroying someone's $1000 laptop because they fell asleep next to you on the airplane while it was running and it happened to have an open USB port is pathetic. There is no legitimate purpose for this thing. If you need ESD testing for your own hardware designs, use the appropriate tool. ESD testing other people's stuff is, and should be, criminal.

This is why we can't have nice things.

[jellomizer]

Because there is always some asshole who feels the need to break stuff.
These public USB Power ports were set up as a convenience for the public and the customers, so that Doctor can have his phone charged so he doesn't miss that life saving call. They are giving us free energy to power our mobile devices. The TVs to entertain us, while we are stuck waiting. But no there has to be some jerk who needs to find a way to break it. We can't have an infrastructure for new technology now, just because it can be broke.

Now this device is just for bad people to do bad things, there is no good in it. It isn't even good enough for properly destroying technology as for the most part it will probably just damage the USB interface card and not reliably break the rest of the system.