This USB stick is basically directly out of a sci-fi movie and we’re scared
If 2001: A Space Odyssey‘s HAL 9000 had a little tiny baby, it would be this USB stick, which is currently being manufactured. Why does a USB seem threatening? Well, this little piece of technology will completely destroy your computer once it’s plugged into it.
The USB Killer is out to destroy your precious apps on your computer.
The device is appropriately named the USB Killer because it will fry your computer out of existence. It might be a small device, but it sure is a deadly one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6bApDXbwGg?feature=oembed
If you thought this little firecracker only obliterated computers, you were so wrong. The tiny device can wipe out TVs, copy machines, and just about anything else that has a USB port.
According to Fortune, once the device is inserted into your computer, it instantaneously draws power from the hardware and it returns that power in an overloading burst.
The device “instantly and permanently disables unprotected hardware,” the makers said, according to the magazine.
USB Kill 2.0: when plugged in, it rapidly charges its capacitors via the USB power supply, and then discharges – all in a matter of seconds.
— profedr 🤖 (@chemconsultor) September 9, 2016
A security hardware team based in Hong Kong developed the USB Killer as a way for people to protect their systems.
According to the manufacturers, demand is seemingly high due to back orders. This tiny little monster can be yours for just 49.95 euros, or around $56.
However, the team is frustrated to see that Apple is the only manufacturer that has protection against USB Killer.
it's been over a year since the industry knows about USB power surge attacks,apple is the only manufacturer reacting to that threat. #usb
— USB Kill (@USBKill) August 30, 2016
There’s no confirmation on whether or not Apple will change its protection against the device. But, at least our Macbooks are still safe — for now.
It’s only a matter of time before the robots, computers, and aliens start taking over and destroy our selfies, Starbucks, and shopping centers.
