This laptop-bricking USB stick just got even more dangerous (video at source site)

ZDNet ^ | March 16, 2017 -- 19:42 GMT (12:42 PDT) | By Zack Whittaker

[Swordmaker]

When plugged in, this weaponized USB stick can destroy laptops, kiosks, ATMs, cars, and more.

(Image: USBKill)

Remember that USB stick that would destroy almost anything in its path, from laptops, photo booths, kiosks, to even cars?

Now there's a new version, and it's even more dangerous than before.

In case you missed it the first time around, a Hong Kong-based company built a weaponized pocket-sized USB stick, which when plugged into a device, will rapidly charge its capacitors from the USB power supply and then discharge, frying the affected device's circuits.

Dubbed the USB Kill stick, it fries almost any device with a USB port, though modern Apple hardware is apparently not affected.

The makers of the USB Kill stick have created a more powerful version with a higher voltage and amp output and a three-times faster pulse rate of up to 12 times a second.

[Swordmaker]

Thanks to TheBatmann for the heads up. The article claims to be able to zap iPhones and iPads with a suitable Lightning adaptor, but modern iPhones and iPads have the same protection built in that it says protect Apple Macs, so how can it zap the other Apple devices???

Keep in mind that although Apple devices are protected by superior built in design, the peripherals that these sticks can be plugged into which can provide power are NOT so protected. Be warned. If the device provides a 5 volt source out, it can and will be zapped by these USBKill devices.

These are BY NO MEANS SOLD AS A TEST DEVICE, but are INTENDED AS A MALICIOUS DESTRUCTIVE DEVICE! No test device is intended to destroy the device it tests! These are INTENDED TO DESTROY ANY DEVICE IN WHICH THEY ARE PLUGGED IN TO! The fact that the company makes one without markings tells you everything you need to know about their ethics!

[Swordmaker]

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! There are again more USB Stick Device Killers out in the wild that will kill almost any electronic device they are plugged in to. Luckily that does NOT INCLUDE Apple Computers and some high end PCs which have sophisticated USB protections built in. Low end PCs and most USB peripherals are most likely at risk. No, contrary to the article, iPhones and iPads are not at risk even if they can locate the proper USB to Lightning cable adaptors as those Apple devices also have the proper protection circuitry built in. These devices are NOT TEST EQUIPMENT, no matter how much the maker dances and dodges making such a claim. Test equipment that destroys the equipment during the test is not a useful test! — PING!

Pinging dayglored, ThunderSleeps, and ShadowAce for their respective lists.

Thanks to TheBatmann for the head's up.

USBKill Device In The Wild
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[exDemMom]

So, would this be useful for killing a hard drive quickly?

[soycd]

Well, if you have made it past the shotguns in the hall and managed to plug your HV USB into my ports...you may discover the deadman switch.

[Inyo-Mono]

Who is selling these, and why?

[soycd]

>So, would this be useful for killing a hard drive quickly?

No, to do that requires destroying the HD platters. Easy to do with a fire wrench or HE.

[Secret Agent Man]

Depends. I would doubt it destroys data. Possibly if somehow it can touch the ssd drive.

[El Cid]

...a Hong Kong-based company built a weaponized pocket-sized USB stick, which when plugged into a device, will rapidly charge its capacitors from the USB power supply and then discharge, frying the affected device's circuits.

The fact that the company makes one without markings tells you everything you need to know about their ethics!

Forget it Jake, it's China(town)....

Companies that dump Melamine into baby formula to make a few bucks, probably don't include the word 'ethics' in their vocabulary.

That said, I have heard they are getting better. The spread of Christianity in their Country should help - albeit the love of money is a stubborn root (no matter where it grows) to dig out and destroy.

[Candor7]

So, would this be useful for killing a hard drive quickly?>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Not just the hard drive, it overcharges the circuitry, fries it.

https://www.usbkill.com/

[soycd]

Way back when...all TVs had a “spark gap” across the antenna inputs to guard against ESD/Lightning etc. Maybe we are back to such common defenses.

[granite]

I think there is malware that can do this as well.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Wallet killer. Probably doesn’t work at all and whoever buys it wanting to zap someone else’s device gets his/her wallet zapped instead.

[bigbob]

Ain’t no software that can jam thousands of volts into the USB port.

[jsanders2001]

Not impressed. Give me a flamethrower and you won’t be able to read the hard driver’s contents when I’’m done either....: )

[granite]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KEWEISI-3V-9V-0-3A-USB-Charger-Power-Battery-Capacity-Tester-Voltage-Current-Met-/112220806777?hash=item1a20e19e79:g:97cAAOSw4GVYPk6o

[Squantos]

Seen this critter and understand Mac Pro is protected from total damage but it will cook the USB port yes / no .... just not the entire Mac ??? ?

My other question is if used with said lesser designed non Mac with this USB killer toast the entire non Mac laptop ? Data and everything ?

[tophat9000]

Basically its causing a statics zap or a short circuit ...so it’s not going to affect the date on the platters its just going to disable the electronics ..put a new circuit board on the drive and it’s going to be available again

As long as the USB port is properly isolated from the main components you should be protected... so they’re not blowing all PC motherboards are just blowing cheap PC motherboards

[bigbob]

Fail

[Vendome]

They should be shot on sight...

[miliantnutcase]

No