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Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB Killer device

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

#91
post #39
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

It's like hiring a gunman to start shooting up your office to train people about the dangers of social engineering, to prove that some people shouldn't be trusted.

Yeah, that'd be crazy.

https://reason.com/2019/03/21/indiana-cops-pelted-teachers-w...

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2018/02/effects-o...

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6506443/Police-rele...

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

#92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm guessing he's a rich kid from India, with rich parents who are bankrolling his education. I hope he gets the full 10 years. Nothing like the US Penitentiary System to teach you a lesson.

> I hope he gets the full 10 years. Ten years for vandalism ? That's injustice. You don't even know why he did it. Perhaps he was just an idiot, perhaps he had a legitimate grievance that he didn't know how to "rectify" otherwise. > Nothing like the US Penitentiary System to teach you a lesson. Oh really? Then why does the US system have one of the highest rates of recidivism in the world? Why does the US have the hi…

> Perhaps he was just an idiot,

Considering he filmed it, this is the most likely explanation anyway; you should ruin someone life over that? Make him pay 200k in fines and that’s it; jail time is insane for this imho.

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

#94
post #86

Why can vandalism result in a prison term? I'd expect paying damages is a sufficient punishment for stupidity. Genuinely curious why the consequences are structured this way.

Deterrence. To some, the damages are pocket change.

I see the point, but the amounts described in the article are going to deter 99% of society already, so I find focusing on the 1% implausible. Is there anything I can read about such deterrence?

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

#96
post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

USB killer would not be an appropriate way to do that, it'd just give a false sense of security.

I wouldn't be so sure. Frying an SSD efficiently is a good use.

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

#97
post #86

Why can vandalism result in a prison term? I'd expect paying damages is a sufficient punishment for stupidity. Genuinely curious why the consequences are structured this way.

Deterrence. To some, the damages are pocket change.

I’ll add that deterrence breaks down into two different prongs: (1) deterring this particular guy from doing the same thing again and (2) deterring others from copying what this guy did. It might seem unfair to punish this guy harshly when a lesser punishment would deter him from ever trying the same thing again, but that is ignoring prong (2), the value of punishing him as a warning to others.

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

#98

Most decent (read: non-american) long haul airlines and even some 737 have USB sockets at each seat for charging devices, what effect would this have in the air?

good question! I have wondered about this when plugging my phone in and being asked “do you trust this computer?”

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

#99
post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Deterrence. To some, the damages are pocket change.

I see the point, but the amounts described in the article are going to deter 99% of society already, so I find focusing on the 1% implausible. Is there anything I can read about such deterrence?

Question is; does it deter well? What are the crime stats on vandalism/destroying propery crimes in the US vs other countries. If it is like other crimes, the over the top punishments do not seem to deter vs the lightweight punishments in some other countries.
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