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Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB Killer device

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141–150 of 224 posts

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

#143
Wannabe criminals are getting dumber day by day. Is a fact.

Fifty years ago the idea of doing something ilegal whereas filming yourself smiling to your own camera, would tag you as martian. Currently all is like: look at me; I'm badass!! I'm a malote!! I want to rub shoulders with the bad guys!!. Hem... Nope, you are an idiot.

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

#144
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.

True. But options are limited. Something is better than nothing in a scenario where secret police are at your door.

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

#145

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...

I could see it being useful for when you want an easy way to get a high voltage spike out of a 5v power supply. For example, if you wanted to build a board for igniting the gas in a potato gun that ran off of a USB power bank.

Then you want something like one of these instead:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-3V-5V-Arc-Generator-High-Voltage...

You also want to use the gas dispenser from a Paslode impact gun, an air mattress inflator and a Zodiac check valve for the air purge.

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

#147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When we (Dutch) ask in school why our sentences are so low, it is explained that if the punishment does not fit the crime, you will be incentivized to add more crime because you are already facing prison time, so why would you care about a few years more or less. Aka if the crime for rape is almost the same as murder you might as well kill the victim to have less chance of being caught. We have not a lot of crime and…

[flagged]

Yeah, Europe has never heard of hazing or bullying.

If you care to check, the U.S. is not an outlier when it comes to general crime rates. Your entire rant is based on ideological phobia and invented premises.

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

#148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, with the cost of finding a specialist amortized over 59 computers, surely it becomes worth it at that point.

Corporations and big organizations don't think like regular people. Yes you can repair the computers saving money, but now there would be no support from the OEM, and they would have at least two different systems - the repaired ones and the working ones, because I don't think that motherboards for custom office PCs they have (like HP or DELL PCs) are off the shelf. I have an old compaq PC I upcycled as a home server…

Don't OEMs offer paid repairs themselves?

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

#149
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.

Is prison going to make this person better?

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

#150

"He faces up to ten years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000" That is crazy. He is obviously not completely 100% in the head and needs psychological help not imprisonment.

Isn't such decision supposed to be a court ruling? I don't think that persecution can suggest psychological help in US court system.
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