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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

#171

Post by michaelt »

SeanLuke wrote: post #162
egwynn wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For a time, macbooks had opto-isolated USB ports[0]. I think they don’t anymore though. [0] https://github.com/usbkill/community/wiki/Consumer-Laptop-Ha...

Call me highly skeptical. Every reference I've seen to this claim seems to point back to usbkill.com making it itself. The problem is: optoisolators are very slow. Building one which goes faster than 12Mbps would be nontrivial; I do not think such a thing existed in 2014 (which usbkill is claiming). This implies that Apple has alien technology. I think it's something else.

  The problem is: optoisolators are very slow.
Many are but they don't have to be - an optoisolator is just a zero-length fiber optic cable. Ain't much higher bandwidth than a fiber optic cable.

Not saying apple laptops ever had optoisolated USB though.

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

#172

Post by itake »

tonyedgecombe wrote: post #140
kmlx wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

here's an example that disputes your assumption: Japan has much less criminality than NL, and has one of the harshest prison systems in the world. you can leave your expensive bicycle unlocked on a crowded tokyo street and no-one's going to touch it. you can leave your expensive apartment completely unsecured and no-one's going to get it. they even still have the baggage lockers all across their subway. a lot of this…

I'm not sure Japan is a good comparison, it is so different culturally that you can't read much into the differences.

Can you elaborate more about how the culture would compensate for lower crime?

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

#173

Post by vict00ms »

subway wrote: post #71
gruez wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>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".

If you use that word again, we'll have to ask you to leave. They're water pipes .

Head shop I used to go to in the mid-90s kept their "water pipes" in a locked back room. You couldn't even buy one unless they'd deemed you "hip to it, man" or whatever.

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

#174

Post by simias »

ProblemFactory wrote: post #131
gruez wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>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".

> plausible deniability. Why would that be necessary? Jackhammers are tools to destroy pavement. But nobody sells jackhammers as "ground strength testing tools". These are tools to destroy computers. Both are completely legal as long as you are not destroying someone else's property without permission.

It's easy to come up with a legitimate use case for destroying pavement, not so much for USB ports. Testing the ESD resistance of computer equipment on the other hand might be a legit use case.

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

#175

Post by RankingMember »

pard68 wrote: post #111
tjohns wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Corporate/university IT shops don't normally do component-level replacement. Both due to time constraints and the nature of their support contacts. (Assuming the Dell/HP/etc. workstations they bought even take standard size motherboards. I've seen some that don't.)

Our Helpdesk does full on replacement work. I have seen them swap out mobos even CPUs. We are our own service contractor with Dell, HP, and Apple.

Wow. I want to work at that helpdesk. Every helpdesk I've encountered is just an intermediary for outside service.

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

#176

Post by rhn_mk1 »

codedokode wrote: post #165
kmlx wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

here's an example that disputes your assumption: Japan has much less criminality than NL, and has one of the harshest prison systems in the world. you can leave your expensive bicycle unlocked on a crowded tokyo street and no-one's going to touch it. you can leave your expensive apartment completely unsecured and no-one's going to get it. they even still have the baggage lockers all across their subway. a lot of this…

Actually there is theft, for example, I watched a TV program about shoplifting and they caught several people, like a company of school girls or an old woman. The bicyles must be registered in Tokyo if I remember correctly. Also, they have unmanned selling stalls, usually in the countryside, where farmers sell fruits and vegetables [1] [1] http://abritishprofinjapan.blogspot.com/2017/07/unmanned-veg...

There's an interesting reason for old people getting caught shoplifting in Japan. One of the many articles covering that:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47197417

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

#177

Post by simias »

SeanLuke wrote: post #162
egwynn wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For a time, macbooks had opto-isolated USB ports[0]. I think they don’t anymore though. [0] https://github.com/usbkill/community/wiki/Consumer-Laptop-Ha...

Call me highly skeptical. Every reference I've seen to this claim seems to point back to usbkill.com making it itself. The problem is: optoisolators are very slow. Building one which goes faster than 12Mbps would be nontrivial; I do not think such a thing existed in 2014 (which usbkill is claiming). This implies that Apple has alien technology. I think it's something else.

Beyond that the host has to supply 5V to the USB device, couldn't you just cause some damage by sending 200V on these lines? You might only fry the USB power supply but that's enough to be a major pain.

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

#178

Post by newsbinator »

malignantCancer wrote: post #107
tluyben2 wrote: post #90

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]

Is there something about the United States that would cause you to think there are more "malignant individuals" than in other countries?

Why wouldn't the Netherlands or Japan have as many "malignant individuals" at young ages?

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

#179

Post by rhn_mk1 »

lotsofpulp wrote: post #120
tluyben2 wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> But a justice system needs rules and standards of some kind. Sure, but having to get a job (he has an MBA so he was planning to) and having the tax office take 70% of his wages until paid off (or allow him to pay off faster if he can) is not a light punishment while it does bring back some productivity. Jail time or over the top crazy punishments doesn't seem to help either and only costs society money. And then mo…

Most foreigners who can afford to come to the US for a post graduate education come from a relatively comfortable situation at home.

The problem with this is that law is not written exclusively for foreign postgrads.

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

#180

Post by chongli »

Someone wrote: post #133
aSockPuppeteer wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It may be designed for a cut and run approach. For example, about to crash in enemy territory, brick all the computers.

In that case, you want to do a lot more than brick it; you want to destroy disks, ROM, and in many cases even PCB boards. Explosives will destroy, but recognizable parts will survive. Your safest bet probably is burning your computer, fast and thoroughly. I think white phosphorous is a popular choice for this kind of thing because it’s relatively easy and safe to transport, store, and deploy (compared to, say, strong…

What about thermite? Melt right through the steel platters of a hard disk!
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