H5N1 proof-of-concept USB epitome that was designed past times a Russian researcher, Dark Purple, terminal year, to effectively destroy sensitive components of a estimator when plugged in.
Now, mortal has truly created the Killer USB stick that destroys almost anything – such equally Laptops, PCs, or televisions – it is plugged into.
H5N1 Hong Kong-based technology scientific discipline manufacturer is selling a USB pollex movement called USB Kill 2.0 that tin plow over the axe youngster whatsoever unauthorized estimator it's plugged into past times introducing a ability surge via the USB port. It costs $49.95.
How does USB Kill 2.0 work?
As the fellowship explains, when plugged in, the USB Kill 2.0 stick speedily charges its capacitors via the USB ability supply, as well as and thus discharges – all inwards a affair of seconds.
The USB stick discharges 200 volts DC ability over the information lines of the host motorcar as well as this charge-and-discharge bike is repeated several numbers of times inwards merely 1 second, until the USB Kill stick is removed.
"When tested on computers, the device isn't designed or intended to erase data," the fellowship says. "However, depending on the hardware configuration (SSD [solid-state drive] vs. platter HDD [hard disk drive]), the movement controllers may travel damaged to the betoken that information retrieval is impractical."
"Any world facing USB port should travel considered an assault vector," the fellowship says inwards a news release. "In information security, these ports are oftentimes locked downward to forestall exfiltration of information or infiltration of malware, but are really oftentimes unprotected against electrical attack."
When And For Whom USB KILL Would Be Useful?
USB Kill stick could travel a boon for whistleblowers, journalists, activists, and, non to forget, cyber criminals, who desire to croak along their sensitive information away from police line enforcement equally good equally cyber thieves.
It is like, if you're caught, kill yourself. In the same fashion equally terrorists do. Here I hateful to kill the information from your laptop if the police line enforcement has caught your laptop. And USB Kill stick does the same for you.
However, the fellowship claims to convey developed USB Kill 2.0 stick for the sole utilisation of allowing companies to exam their devices against USB Power Surge attacks as well as to forestall information theft via "Juice Jacking" attacks.
Video Demonstration
You tin plow over the axe scout the video demonstration below past times the fellowship that shows USB Kill 2.0 stick inwards action.
The fellowship claims nigh 95% of all devices available on the marketplace today are vulnerable to ability surge attacks introduced via the USB port.
However, the entirely devices non vulnerable to USB kill attacks are recent models of Apple's MacBook, which optically isolate the information lines on USB ports.
Juice jacking is a type of cyber assault wherein malware installed on a estimator tin plow over the axe surreptitiously re-create information from a smartphone, tablet or other computers using a USB charging port that doubles equally a information connection, typically over USB.
While USB Kill 2.0 has been "designed as well as tested to travel safe," the fellowship warns that the USB stick "is a high-voltage device" and is entirely meant for "responsible adults." Also, the company's website "strongly condemns the malicious utilisation of its products."
USB Kill 2.0 too comes amongst a USB Protection Shield, called Test Shield, sold for additional $15.70, which is designed to allow testing of the USB Killer stick without destroying the host machine.
