That Laptop-Bricking USB Stick Just Got Even More Dangerous (zdnet.com)

From a report on ZDNet: Remember that USB stick that would destroy almost anything in its path, from laptops, photo booths, kiosks, to even cars? The makers of the USB Kill stick have created a more powerful version with a higher voltage and amp output, and a three-times faster pulse rate of up to 12 times a second. And, with microUSB, USB-C, and Lightning adapters, the USB Kill claims to be able to kill iPhones, iPads, and other devices, like phones, tablets, and digital cameras. The company says it's "designed to test the surge protection circuitry of electronics to their limits." In other words, its purpose is destroying expensive kit.

Comments

Can't speak for the new one

[waspleg]

but the old one has tons of youtube videos of killing shit and as someone who works K-12 this kind of thing has managers pissing their pants in fear of kids with them.

Re:Can't speak for the new one

[waspleg]

Well, for one thing, because they could probably take out a row of machines in a computer lab before a teacher would even notice?

It's far more subtle than just throwing a laptop on the floor and jumping on it (or 8 ... yes, this happened, no, the parents didn't pay a cent and the kid left the district without consequence).

Re:Can't speak for the new one

[Victa]

As someone who worked Admin/Support in a K-12 school long enough to see kids come in one end and leave at the other, I can say that a good portion of people in this age group simply like breaking shit (that does not belong to them).

They get a kick out of knowing that SOMEONE is going to be inconvenienced by it, either the next user or the support guys who have to try and fix it.

For example; Switching to optical mice saved us a good 30 mins a day in replacing mouse balls, we would usually find the balls with the rubber peeled off them sitting on the desk next to the mouse... The switch to small form factor PCs with laptop style optical drives saved us hours a week fixing the little drive belts that open and close the tray (which can be flipped off in seconds with a paperclip)... but also provided us several chances a week to try and explain to the warranty people how the lens in the drive got covered in permanent texta (this destroys them BTW)...

Additionally, a handful of these sticks dropped around a school would result in many, many broken computers by the end of the day... "Hey Jimmy, this USB stick I found in the playground doesn't work in this PC, try it in yours..."

If only we had been allowed to install the taser mice I suggested life would have been much more fun (for us)... :P

Cheers.

So what?

[Anonymous Coward]

And, with microUSB, USB-C, and Lightning adapters, the USB Kill claims to be able to kill iPhones, iPads, and other devices, like phones, tablets, and digital cameras

A hammer can break all of those things too. That doesn't mean it's interesting to do that or that all those devices should be made hammer-proof. Beyond the initial "I wonder if I can break shit via USB" idea and proof of concept this really doesn't seem at all interesting or useful. Making it bigger and badder is just pointless.

Re:So what?

[Nethemas the Great]

You clearly lack an understanding of adolescents, and those that behave as such. Particularly with the "anonymous" option, this sort of device has a strong novelty factor that coupled with poor impulse control makes for a lot of unpleasant outcomes. This is easily evidenced by all the rich kid videos on YouTube where they get their kicks blowing out expensive things with USB ports. Scatter these things around public places and all sorts of mayhem will ensue when naive fools jab them into their systems to "see what's on them."

Re:So what?

[thegarbz]

If you leave a hammer in a targets parking lot it is not safe to assume they will test it on their laptop.

The potential attack surface of this device is huge because of what it looks like and what people typically do.

Re:etherkiller

[gurps_npc]

You are missing the point.

Etherkillers (and their ilk) have three prong plugs that you have to plug into an outlet with surge protection in addition to the port plugging into the computer.

As such, it is clearly and obviously a device designed to destroy computers, and can not be mistaken for a run of the mill, safe thing to plug into your computer.

No one - not event he stupidest cop that confiscates your device is going to make the mistake of destroying their own computer using it.

The USB killer is in a class by itself - it can easily be used as protection against someone else viewing your data.

The real advantage of such a device is combining it with a real, hidden USB drive, that destroy's the real data on the real memory chip when you use the obvious USB port, rather than the hidden one. Perfect to store stuff you don't want the enemy to see.

Phone version?

[The Grim Reefer]

When can we get one that's an actual phone? It would be great for use as a burner when leaving and returning to the US. Though I doubt the TSA is going to find the humor to their liking. But I don't really find the legal gray zone at the border very funny either.

Re:Phone version?

[skids]

They are more likely to plug it in if it can display a lockscreen. But I'd be prepared for some major legal problems if used in this manner.

In other words...

[cirby]

...when you get a USB stick that's not in a sealed container from the store, plug it into an old USB hub for a while to see if it blows anything up.

Re:In other words...

[rgmoore]

Just make sure that hub isn't plugged into a computer, since the stick could have a malicious data payload. Note, though, that the same company that makes the USB Kill Stick also makes a plug in surge suppressor that protects USB ports against the Kill Stick. I'm sure they're planning on selling them to people like law enforcement who have to worry about malicious hardware.

Just remember, the only people who win in an arms race are arms manufacturers.

Re: Let us also make guns

[ckatko]

Amazing how their murder rates aren't sky high, completely debunking gun control nuts typical claims. (As if most gun control nuts even knew how a gun works or could label the different parts.)

Could use one of these ...

[PPH]

... built into a fake OBD II diagnostic port. Car thieves can pair electronic keys with a car with commands through this port. So now, when they break in and plug in their cracking tool .... poof!

Re:etherkiller

[arth1]

Con someone confirm that this mongol actually wrote that?

Con someone confirm?

Myphry's Law strikes again, it seems.

Re: Let us also make guns

[liquid_schwartz]

It's also an affluent mono-culture. Not exactly a good model from which to draw conclusions about more social-economically diverse populations.

But it could be a damning indictment of how diversity doesn't deliver the better world that its advocates always promise. If you want low murder rates, higher levels of social trust, and cohesion diversity is not your friend.

Re:etherkiller

[sexconker]

Con someone confirm?

Myphry's Law strikes again, it seems.

Myphry's Law? Muphry's law just keeps striking.

Re: Let us also make guns

[GLMDesigns]

7.03 firearm deaths includes accidental and suicide and self-defense. Stop twisting things around and compare like things. Murder to Murder.



There are no guns (practically speaking) in Japan. Therefore the suicide rate must be lower there than in NH. (oops, guess not)

At issue is not deaths in general; at issue is using guns to kill people out of rage, mad-man killing spree, terrorism, or crime.

Including deaths from suicide show your bias and displays a your intent to distort the data.
Including deaths from accidental accidents also shows your bias. Yes guns are dangerous. Same as skiing. Same as scuba diving. Same as parachuting. Same as technical climbing. Accidents happen. Mistakes happen skeet shooting. Mistakes happen shooting water fowl (a lot more than hunting deer). People are very careful and yet mistakes happen.