USB Killer, yours for $50, lets you easily fry almost every device | Hacker News Reader

USB Killer, yours for $50, lets you easily fry almost every device

arstechnica.com

64 pointskoolba47 comments

Funniest thing I saw today was a suggestion to include one of these in fake packages intended to catch package thieves.

I'd bet most package theives in my neighbourhood would end up trying it out at the public library.

Or straight to craigslist without trying it

If this is meant for "testing ones equipment", and most devices will be destroyed in the process, then a test means a sacrifice of the device. Short of actual security/test professionals who would want that? Malicious use is "condemned" but all I see in this USB killer IS malicious use...

The existence of the device is important in itself.

If it was possible to make a device like USB Killer, nobody would care. But now that you can order one online for cheap, it must be taken into account.

But yes, it's mostly for malicious use. Does demonstrating what malicious use is possible count as non-malicious?

It might, but those are edge cases that should not merit a full blown commercial enterprise to sell them. I can imagine what's going to happen next: co worker did me wrong, I'll nuke his laptop when he's off to the loo. Girl in class ignored me? I'll nuke her laptop when she's not watching. For many people a laptop or a phone are essential and irreplaceable. I sure hope this will make next iteration of devices protected against those.

You can cause harm to others laptops without this device? The consequences for both parties are the same.

These have been around for purchase for quite some and there isn't a widespread rash of these devices burning out devices. I'm sure it happens, however the same could be said for TVBGones, car hacks, Wifi Pineapples, etc. If you're in the mood to destroy something it's relatively easy to do so. It's just a matter of time. This is why current disposable design trends are so pernicious. A motherboard is relatively inexpensive to replace on work environments where this is likely to be the most used. Access to other people's hardware can be somewhat risky for most people. There's a reason why most crimes of passion are easily caught. If you're intelligent enough to use this effectively, you're generally intelligent enough to find a different, legal way of revenge.

Not sure about this. You can damage most devices by hitting them with a hammer or pouring coffee on them. That's about $50 cheaper to do.

Less subtle with a hammer but true and fair enough.

I think it might be useful as an object lesson in security, drop a few outside your business, some larcenous genius plugs it in, blammo, magic smoke. They will be charged for the laptop, and given a lecture about introducing viruses to the company network.

> They will be charged for the laptop

In what universe is that legal?? And how about liability for when they plug it into their personal equipment and damage that?

They broke company rules and damaged equipment, no duh they are going to have a bill for it.

Better in that case to make a device that will announce silently via wireless signals that the device has been used, and where.

Or make it very loudly announce its use to accomplish the same purpose.

I've thought about putting this on my keys in case they are stolen.

Or you destroy the computer of whomever tries to help you return your lost keys.

Put a label with your name and phone number on your keys. Problem solved

I'd rather they be lost forever than give anyone an idea of where the keys might be used.

For such labels, I use a forwarding email address with a name that seems related to me (e.g. my initials and some digits), but vague enough not to reveal my identity nor bring up pertinent Google results.

In Canada we have this service [1] run by donations. You get tags you put on your keys. Anyone can then dump your found keys into any mailbox in the country and they get couriered back to you for free.

[1] https://www.waramps.ca/ways-we-help/key-tags/

Here in the US in the eighties, my father had a similar tag (made of metal) which even somehow included postage, such that someone could take the keys and put them into the nearest mailbox and they'd be returned to a company which would relay them to the person who lost them. I don't remember if it came from a car insurance company, a bank, his employer, or what but it was a good idea that never really took off. (come to think of it, quite possibly because having keys on a postal conveyor belt might cause no end of problems)

The War Amps key tag service doesn't require postage. You place any keys that have a War Amps tag on them in a Canada Post mailbox without packaging or postage and they get returned to the owner. It's been running since 1946.

This was (is?) a service also provided by some loyalty cards that have small versions that attach to the keyring, most notably some grocery store cards. Checking what's on my keyring right now, Mariano's (WI/IL chain, now owned by Kroger) appears to have this.

Albertson's at least had this policy in 2004, with some details from an employee: http://www.goodexperience.com/tib/archives/2004/06/albertson...

That looks like three differing accounts from three different employees. Interesting.

Same here in the UK - pretty sure it was part of my dad’s house insurance policy.

I think he still has that metal tag on his keyring.

The tag I'm thinking of was metallic as well. I'm sure it must have had a serial number stamped on it along with an address, but what I remember was that it was an irregular shape, perhaps with little flathead screwdriver-heads on the corners or something like that. And I'm not sure how accurate my memory from that time can possibly be, I imagine I only remember it because I was fascinated by the thought of putting something not-mail in the mailbox and I asked my father about it.

I have a UK one on my keyring right now, it's from Barclaycard. It reads "Finder, please deposit in any post box - no stamp needed", and also has an 0800 phone number on it.

It's never been tested, but I like to think it works!

That's kind of a dick move if someone finds your keys and wants to know who to return them to though.

Yeah that's true. The reason I haven't done it is possible collateral damage. Maybe a sticker that says 'Do not plug in.'

Print your contact info on the key with a warning not to actually use the device.

Kind of defeats the purpose.

Not if the purpose is to thwart thieves who are going to ignore the warning.

That's to assume that a thief is somehow more likely to plug the USB in than a non-thief, which I'm not particularly convinced about

I would posit that a person who plugs the USB key in leans more towards thief than "person who just wants to get the keys back to you." I'd further bet that there have been a not-insignificant number of CFAA prosecutions for actions of curiosity. (Not to say that plugging in a found USB key constitutes a CFAA violation)

A thief, someone who already has the mindset of "ignoring the rules", is more likely to see "Do not plug in" as yet another rule to ignore.

Because what you really want is to tie your lost house-key to your address so that anyone who finds it can let themselves in and leave it on the mantelpiece for you.

Much better to leave them anonymous and just get a new one cut for a few dollars (as opposed to needing to replace all the locks if your address is identifiable from they key and it doesn't get returned).

Email address/phone number, not house address.

But I personally love my bluetooth tracker...and they finally made one that takes replaceable coin cells!

People can get your address from an email or phone number with ease. Be safe out there!

Separate email address with a forwarding rule!

> I personally love my bluetooth tracker

linky link ?

https://www.thetileapp.com/en-gb/

Maybe stick it in your wallet, since I don't think muggers or pickpockets would pick your keys over your wallet.

(2016)

$50?

Here's the $5 version:

https://www.amazon.com/Stalwart-75-HT3000-Natural-Hardwood-H...

Low effort Reddit jokes aside, it's quite obvious that would destroy a device with a usb port, but it's not quite so obvious the thing in the article would, which makes it more dangerous IMHO.

Rock, yours for $0, lets you easily destroy almost every device.

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