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Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB Killer device

zdnet.com

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Re: Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB Killer device

#21

Post by 8note »

yial wrote: post #6
stadeschuldt wrote: post #5

I am looking at https://usbkill.com/ . What is the purpose of the device? The manufacturer calls it an "ESD tester" yet there is an "anonymous" version available: https://usbkill.com/products/usb-killer-v3?variant=447760856...

They bill it for “pen testers and police” so I would guess it’s really for people who imagine themselves / want to be within that audience. Not to be overly cynical. I suppose some pen testers, or actual CIA type folks might have some need of this type of device... but is that a large enough market?

I could see this being used to check USB chargers to make sure they don't catch fire when weird things happen

Re: Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB Killer device

#22

Post by gruez »

stadeschuldt wrote: post #5

I am looking at https://usbkill.com/ . What is the purpose of the device? The manufacturer calls it an "ESD tester" yet there is an "anonymous" version available: https://usbkill.com/products/usb-killer-v3?variant=447760856...

>The manufacturer calls it an "ESD tester" yet there is an "anonymous" version available

plausible deniability. selling devices specifically for committing crimes is illegal. that's why all the bong shops say it's "for tobacco use only".

Re: Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB Killer device

#24

Post by mackal »

hprotagonist wrote: post #18

Long ago, I worked for my uni's departmental IT group. We made our own etherkiller, hung it on the wall with a sign "USE IN CASE OF SUN". Never used it in anger, but it was fun to dream about...

In one class we we're building a custom circuit to talk to a custom 8-bit computer over the ISA bus. I accidentally put one chip upside down (it was some off brand and I mistook a scuff on one end for the marker for which way is up) and killed the DOS PC :P

The custom 8-bit computer was fine though.

Re: Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB Killer device

#26

Post by gruez »

hprotagonist wrote: post #19
wodenokoto wrote: post #8

Any word on motive?

February-ish is normally acceptance letter time, but it doesn't make sense. He'd already graduated, and nobody get an MBA and then applies for further graduate study.

Maybe he got a MBA, failed to get a job, then tried to reenroll, and got denied?

Re: Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB Killer device

#28

Post by secfirstmd »

yial wrote: post #6
stadeschuldt wrote: post #5

I am looking at https://usbkill.com/ . What is the purpose of the device? The manufacturer calls it an "ESD tester" yet there is an "anonymous" version available: https://usbkill.com/products/usb-killer-v3?variant=447760856...

They bill it for “pen testers and police” so I would guess it’s really for people who imagine themselves / want to be within that audience. Not to be overly cynical. I suppose some pen testers, or actual CIA type folks might have some need of this type of device... but is that a large enough market?

Also activists / journos in some countries. I know we have looked at various emergency destruction techniques over the years.

Re: Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB Killer device

#29

Post by Taniwha »

moftz wrote: post #10
yial wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They bill it for “pen testers and police” so I would guess it’s really for people who imagine themselves / want to be within that audience. Not to be overly cynical. I suppose some pen testers, or actual CIA type folks might have some need of this type of device... but is that a large enough market?

I can't even imagine a situation where police would want to destroy a running device that could likely have evidence stored in volatile memory. Even if it was their own device that they were retiring, it doesn't even wipe data, it just destroys the logic/motherboard. Hardware designers might want one to test out their mitigation circuit but once your design, why do you need a USBkill anymore? This thing just seems li…

TV-B-Gone has many practical uses, especially in public places where TV is foisted upon the general public

Re: Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB Killer device

#30

Post by phire »

stadeschuldt wrote: post #9
yial wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They bill it for “pen testers and police” so I would guess it’s really for people who imagine themselves / want to be within that audience. Not to be overly cynical. I suppose some pen testers, or actual CIA type folks might have some need of this type of device... but is that a large enough market?

I don't buy the pen testing part. I might as well sell a hammer and call it a pen testing device. Funny enough they have the following on their website: "A hammer used maliciously can permanently damage to a third party's device. The USB Killer, used maliciously, can permanently damage a third party's device." Contrary to this device a hammer can be used a useful tool too.

It's designed to prove a point.

To prove that USB devices can be malicious.

It's probably most useful as an education tool, training staff not to plug random USB devices they find lying around the parking lot into their computers.

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