Would a USB killer work on my computer?

[lexidobe]

All of the tests on USB Killer that I have seen done have been on old computers. So my question is would a high end modern computer like mine still be destroyed by a USB killer, or would it have protection built in? Thanks, just curious. 

[lexidobe]

Just now, Keith W said:

Get one, plug it in

 

Come back and tell us the results

Ok thanks. I'll plug mine in and report back!

[cesarbg]

Just now, lexidobe said:

Ok thanks. I'll plug mine in and report back!

Please do, we’re eager to know the outcome.

[Crunchy Dragon]

4 minutes ago, lexidobe said:

All of the tests on USB Killer that I have seen done have been on old computers. So my question is would a high end modern computer like mine still be destroyed by a USB killer, or would it have protection built in? Thanks, just curious. 

There's probably a reason that they all tested it on older computers. That reason being they were old, so that made them disposable instead of using a higher end rig.

 

Short answer: unless your USB ports are all dead, it would hurt a higher end computer like yours.

[lexidobe]

14 minutes ago, cesarbg said:

Please do, we’re eager to know the outcome.

It works. I just plugged it in, and the screen went black and the computer won't turn on again. (joking)

[PorkishPig]

9 minutes ago, lexidobe said:

All of the tests on USB Killer that I have seen done have been on old computers. So my question is would a high end modern computer like mine still be destroyed by a USB killer, or would it have protection built in? Thanks, just curious. 

1

Modern computers usually have some protection against this. It does kill devices like an Xbox, however, and has a high chance of killing USB ports in cars, laptops, and desktops.

[cesarbg]

Just now, lexidobe said:

It works. I just plugged it in, and the screen went black and the computer won't turn on again.

Now get another one, but don’t do it again is time.

[19_blackie_73]

congrats

either for dumbness or good will or simply trolling

[Blademaster91]

RIP OP's computer

 

 

[Canada EH]

6 hours ago, 19_blackie_73 said:

trolling

yes it is/was

[Beef Boss]

Consumer grade electronics usually don't have protection against things like this. 

[Vantage9]

On 2/17/2018 at 4:18 PM, Homeless Pineapple said:

Modern computers usually have some protection against this.

Just because a brand new macbook pro didn't get fried, doesn't make this a 'usually' situation by any means...

[manikyath]

the USB killers usually are made to "not give up" until your computer is dead, so chances are that given enough "cycles" you'll eventually kill anything with a USB port.

 

the thing is that a usb killer, besides a really lame party trick, is a completely benefit-less malicious tool with no intent other than to destroy working hardware. it is essentially a weak (minded) malicious teenage nerd's axe to the car of a teacher that got him an F grade. its destroying for the sake of destroying.

[Vantage9]

19 hours ago, manikyath said:

the USB killers usually are made to "not give up" until your computer is dead, so chances are that given enough "cycles" you'll eventually kill anything with a USB port.

 

the thing is that a usb killer, besides a really lame party trick, is a completely benefit-less malicious tool with no intent other than to destroy working hardware. it is essentially a weak (minded) malicious teenage nerd's axe to the car of a teacher that got him an F grade. its destroying for the sake of destroying.

 

You are not wrong.  It's a pointless thing.

 

HOWEVER...  Every now and then throughout history . . . the ability to destroy specific things quickly and efficiently has actually come in handy.  I, for one, will be secretly hoarding these things; so that when the computer uprising comes I will pass them out to the people for self defense.

 

[manikyath]

7 hours ago, Vantage9 said:

 

You are not wrong.  It's a pointless thing.

 

HOWEVER...  Every now and then throughout history . . . the ability to destroy specific things quickly and efficiently has actually come in handy.  I, for one, will be secretly hoarding these things; so that when the computer uprising comes I will pass them out to the people for self defense.

 

you'd be better off carrying a tazer.

[Cole5]

7 hours ago, Vantage9 said:

 

You are not wrong.  It's a pointless thing.

 

HOWEVER...  Every now and then throughout history . . . the ability to destroy specific things quickly and efficiently has actually come in handy.  I, for one, will be secretly hoarding these things; so that when the computer uprising comes I will pass them out to the people for self defense.

 

Doesn't it pump out like 3 amps at 500 volts? Pretty sure thats kinda lethal

[manikyath]

44 minutes ago, Cole5 said:

Doesn't it pump out like 3 amps at 500 volts? Pretty sure thats kinda lethal

-215 volts (as in, the Vcc pin is used as ground, and ground pin is Vout) and given low enough resistance it can deliver up to 180A. repeating that several times per second.

 

sauce:

https://usbkill.com/products/usb-killer-v3

[Jurrunio]

If your USB ports dont have fuses then it will be destroyed. I have found a few business laptop (forgot the brand, sadly) advertising this as a feature.

[Cole5]

20 minutes ago, manikyath said:

-215 volts (as in, the Vcc pin is used as ground, and ground pin is Vout) and given low enough resistance it can deliver up to 180A. repeating that several times per second.

 

sauce:

https://usbkill.com/products/usb-killer-v3

Oh dear, yeah thats quite lethal 

[Mira Yurizaki]

1 hour ago, Cole5 said:

Doesn't it pump out like 3 amps at 500 volts? Pretty sure thats kinda lethal

12V on most chips is lethal. They won't poof in a spectacular cloud of magic smoke, but ICs are exceedingly sensitive to stupidly low voltage (note that for safety purposes, "extra low voltage" is less than 120VDC)

[MeDownYou]

There is a reason why they didn't just stick to a version 1 or 2, they are on version 3 of the USBkiller

 

That being said there are boards that actually have separated board areas now to combat this, the real question is does yours?

[Vantage9]

On 2/20/2018 at 4:31 PM, manikyath said:

you'd be better off carrying a tazer.

 

?  Why... will the robots of the coming apocalypse not have USB ports???     Wait a second. . . is it going to be an Apple-Exclusive Uprising???

 

On 2/20/2018 at 5:11 PM, Cole5 said:

Doesn't it pump out like 3 amps at 500 volts? Pretty sure thats kinda lethal

Sure, lethal to all the people who have modded themselves with USB ports...

[manikyath]

23 minutes ago, Vantage9 said:

will the robots of the coming apocalypse not have USB ports???

a tazer works on everything thats exposed, why replace a fuctional tool with a less functional over the sake of novelty?

 

besides, there's already boards on the market today where you dont even get past nuking the protection circuitry.

[Tsuki]

3 hours ago, manikyath said:

a tazer works on everything thats exposed, why replace a fuctional tool with a less functional over the sake of novelty?

 

besides, there's already boards on the market today where you dont even get past nuking the protection circuitry.

against a computer uprising, i'd rather have an axe.  or a garden hose

[manikyath]

5 hours ago, Tsuki said:

against a computer uprising, i'd rather have an axe.  or a garden hose

i wasnt quite proving the superiority of a tazer, but more so the complete inferiority of a usb device.

 

essentially, almost anything "utilitarian" will be more helpful than a usb killer.