Author Topic: Are these things real?  (Read 1240 times)

Hawkmoon

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Are these things real?
« on: April 17, 2019, 04:49:36 PM »
https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/17/18412427/college-saint-rose-student-guilty-usb-killer-destroyed-computers

Student (or former student) used a "USB killer" device to kill $58,000 worth of computers at his college. Doing some searching on these devices (which I had never heard of), I see them being marketed as "testers."

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

What kind of tester sets out to destroy every piece of equipment it's put into? Is there any legitimate purpose to these things?
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BlueStarLizzard

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Re: Are these things real?
« Reply #1 on: April 17, 2019, 05:00:32 PM »
mayhem" border="0
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Scout26

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Re: Are these things real?
« Reply #2 on: April 17, 2019, 05:09:55 PM »
Some days even my lucky rocketship underpants won't help.


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Firethorn

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Re: Are these things real?
« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2019, 05:13:22 PM »

What kind of tester sets out to destroy every piece of equipment it's put into? Is there any legitimate purpose to these things?

It doesnt destroy every device, just most.

And no real legit purpose outside of a lab where you are making sure the result is dead equipment, not a fire.

WLJ

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Re: Are these things real?
« Reply #4 on: April 17, 2019, 05:15:19 PM »
You should see what happens when people jam their ac-adapter plug into the USB port.
Lets just say certain chips and circuit paths on the motherboard don't take too kindly to that.

As far as these devices go, all you really need to do is cross some contacts in the USB port to fry the motherboard.
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lee n. field

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Re: Are these things real?
« Reply #5 on: April 17, 2019, 05:40:45 PM »
You should see what happens when people jam their ac-adapter plug into the USB port.
Lets just say certain chips and circuit paths on the motherboard don't take too kindly to that.

As far as these devices go, all you really need to do is cross some contacts in the USB port to fry the motherboard.

For a while at work I had a USB to hard drive adapter, that had a power supply for the hard drive that you would plug into the adapter to power the hard drive.  If you did things in the wrong order, you'd kill the motherboard.

Plug in power, make sure drive is powered on, then and only then plug the usb end into the shop computer.

Killed a couple shop computers before I figured that out.
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just Warren

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Re: Are these things real?
« Reply #6 on: April 17, 2019, 05:58:49 PM »
Given the title, I was expecting a more boob-centric post.
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Scout26

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Re: Are these things real?
« Reply #7 on: April 17, 2019, 06:01:06 PM »
Given the title, I was expecting a more boob-centric post.

I will confess that I too, was disappoint.
Some days even my lucky rocketship underpants won't help.


Bring me my Broadsword and a clear understanding.
Get up to the roundhouse on the cliff-top standing.
Take women and children and bed them down.
Bless with a hard heart those that stand with me.
Bless the women and children who firm our hands.
Put our backs to the north wind.
Hold fast by the river.
Sweet memories to drive us on,
for the motherland.

Hawkmoon

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Re: Are these things real?
« Reply #8 on: April 17, 2019, 06:24:41 PM »
Given the title, I was expecting a more boob-centric post.

I've always been more of a leg man ...
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MechAg94

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Re: Are these things real?
« Reply #9 on: April 17, 2019, 09:11:24 PM »
I've always been more of a leg man ...
That works too.
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brimic

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Re: Are these things real?
« Reply #10 on: April 17, 2019, 10:19:55 PM »
"now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb" -Dark Helmet

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just Warren

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Re: Are these things real?
« Reply #11 on: April 17, 2019, 11:37:42 PM »
I've always been more of a leg man ...

Member in Good Standing of the Spontaneous Order of the Invisible Hand.