Is it possible for peripheral device to damage the PC?

[Samael]

Hi there!

 

A bit silly question but is it possible for peripheral device to damage the PC? I'm not talking about software-like damage (when USB-size mini PC erases your data), I'm talking about if there is something wrong with a USB drive or keyboard - can it possibly damage the PC?

 

Thank you!

[minibois]

We have seen those USB killers, any USB peripheral can have that installed in it without the end user knowing it.. So realistically: yes. And as for software issues, bad drivers or just malware implanted in the usb peripheral can screw up your installation of your OS.

 

But in practice, this stuff really does not happen. If a USB peripheral has some power issue, it's usually a self contained issue too (as in, doesn't spread to the PC).

[You_are_a_cunt]

Yes. And no. Mostly no.

Assuming there's, let's say, a dead short in a mouse or a keyboard, the worst thing that might happen is the surface mount fuse for that usb port gets fried. You'll have a dead USB port (unless you repair it), but everything else should be fine.

[LukaH]

Yes lets say you have a robotic arm connected via USB and it malfunctions knocking your PC on the ground. I'd call that peripheral device damage and not the software kind.

[deadaccount69]

Yes it's possible but unlikely unless the device is designed with malicious intent. This is an example of something malicious: https://www.usbkill.com/ and here's something innocent but still deadly(note that this is highly unlikely to hurt your device, but not impossible either):

 

[Samael]

So if the device was not designed with malicious intent the top(worst) thing it can do is to kill my USB port?

[deadaccount69]

Just now, Samael said:

So if the device was not designed with malicious intent the top(worst) thing it can do is to kill my USB port?

Not quite. These devices with malicious intent have been known to completely wreck motherboards and consumer electronics(PS4 etc...) alike. If it wasn't designed with malicious intent and it's just a power problem, It's more likely to take out a usb hub chip than the actual port so it might kill 2 or more ports at the same time.

[Sacriledgy]

Assuming that you don't bash your internal PC with your keyboard, i would say no. (At least for the most part)

[Samael]

My perfectionism wants an ABSOLUTE answer. =(

[Sacriledgy]

5 minutes ago, Samael said:

My perfectionism wants an ABSOLUTE answer. =(

Yes. 

 

And 

 

No.

[deadaccount69]

3 minutes ago, Samael said:

My perfectionism wants an ABSOLUTE answer. =(

Your original question: Is it possible for peripheral device to damage the PC?

Absolute answer: Yes.

[Samael]

I thought that peripheral device is called that for a reason and if there is something wrong with it the problem is self-contained and the device simply doesn't work.

[deadaccount69]

15 minutes ago, Samael said:

I thought that peripheral device is called that for a reason and if there is something wrong with it the problem is self-contained and the device simply doesn't work.

You didn't ask what's likely or common. You asked what's possible. The answer is that yes, it is possible.

[Samael]

1 minute ago, ryan27968 said:

You didn't ask what's likely or common. You asked what's possible. The answer is that yes, it is possible.

...but unlikely and uncommon?

[deadaccount69]

Just now, Samael said:

...but unlikely and uncommon?

Yes. Both. But not impossible either.

[Sacriledgy]

I can tell that OP is an interesting individual....

[Samael]

2 minutes ago, Its Not Important said:

I can tell that OP is an interesting individual....

;-)

[Arika]

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