There are multiple methods with which an attacker could break into your computer, so you not only have to worry about unknown discs or USBs but also about attacks via the internet. The latest in questionable crowdfunding campaigns only concerns itself with one of those methods and that’s USB ports. Sure enough an attacker could steal information off of your PC via a USB flash drive but is frying the USB Port the only way to protect yourself? The team behind “USB Killer” seems to think so.
They’re seeking $10,000 in crowdfunding for a USB dongle which you plug into your PC to literally damage it. The dongle will fry the USB port at no liability to the team, which conveniently points out that their product may end up damaging your motherboard, causing permanent damage to it.
One scenario the team paints in which this product would be useful is a home or office break-in. Burglars have invaded and “they see an innocuous-looking USB drive next to your computer and hope to gain access to its data. However, it’s not an ordinary flash stick. After inserting USB Killer into the computer the USB port is burned out, protecting you and your information.”
One can punch about a dozen holes in that theory but that wouldn’t serve any purpose now would it. This is basically meant to be a consumer-version of a USB frying dongle that has already been around for quite some time now.
If you do see any purpose in owning this dongle head over to Indiegogo right now and pledge $99 to claim your USB Killer which ships January 2016.
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