The Killer USB Stick, be afraid.

[Robin]

This USB “killer” stick destroys a computer in seconds.

A Russian security researcher has developed a normal-looking USB stick that, if inserted into any computer, will destroy its motherboard and render it useless.

The USB Killer 2.0 has been made to look just like any USB stick used to store information. However, the stick discharges a negative 220-volt charge when it is plugged into a USB port. This is enough to completely wreck not only the USB port but the PC’s motherboard as well.

In a blog post, the researcher dubbed Dark Purple says the USB Killer could destroy anything with a USB port, such as televisions, routers, and modems. Even a smartphone connected using a USB on-the-go cable could be affected.

“The basic idea of the USB drive is quite simple,” said Dark Purple. “When we connect it up to the USB port, an inverting DC/DC converter runs and charges capacitors to -110V. When the voltage is reached, the DC/DC is switched off. At the same time, the field transistor opens. It is used to apply the -110V to signal lines of the USB interface. When the voltage on capacitors increases to -7V, the transistor closes, and the DC/DC starts. The loop runs till everything possible is broken down.”

While USB sticks infected with malware are quite common, USB sticks that rely on some electrical parts to render computers inoperable are rare.
However, despite the motherboard going to hardware heaven, the hard drive may still be intact with its contents readable. "It is extremely unlikely that the hard disk was damaged," said Dark Purple.

The previous incarnation USB Killer 1.0 could only manage a maximum voltage of 110V. The new version is twice as powerful and more innocent looking. The new USB stick took a week to develop the circuit implementation and a few months for parts to arrive. Dark Purple then developed and ordered printed circuit boards in China and made a “combat model”.

He said that a former colleague of his describes the USB stick as “an atomic bomb: cool to have, but cannot be applied”.

Kinda worried that something like this could be out there now, you just know people are going to sell these to cause trouble. It will also lead to huge damage caused in places which have public computers like schools and universities because if some youth can key a car they will also stick this into any USB slot they find

The creators are right, it's like the A-bomb, not exactly something which you want to use or want to fall into the wrong hands.

 

[Epic B]

It's an interesting idea, but how many non-illicit uses would it even have?

 

[Robin]

It's an interesting idea, but how many non-illicit uses would it even have?

None.

 

[Darla Starch]

It's an interesting idea, but how many non-illicit uses would it even have?

As an idle plaything to use on your own electronics if you're rich/have a backup right alongside you? One.

Other than that,

None.

 

[Swagger897]

lol, this could backfire and it would be the funniest thing ever...

Say if a kid actually got his hands on one and he already had one which is quite similar to it, had a school project due and required it to turn it in via USB stick, accidentally drops the two and gets confused..


Of course, he could just give them both to the teacher and say "I can't remember which one of these have it"

 

[Epic B]

Of course, he could just give them both to the teacher and say "I can't remember which one of these have it"

Such a prank would be funny, but it would also get the student in pretty hot water.

 

[Swagger897]

Do you really think a literature teacher would be able to determine that the USB fried it (unless it makes an obvious noise)??