Protect Your Devices with the USB Killer Detector

We’ve all heard of computer viruses and malware, first transmitted via physical media, and now primarily through various communication networks. The question you may not have asked yourself, however, is what if the physical media device itself was malicious?

While it might not be able to steal your passwords, USB killer devices, as shown here versus a PS4 Pro and Xbox One S, one can do quite a good job of destroying hardware. As reported on The Verge, a student at Saint Rose even used one of these little nasties to destroy $58,000 of computer equipment at the college. He decided to take video of the ordeal, so there was plenty of evidence for this nefarious deed.

Malicious on-site actors are one thing, but what if you pick up a USB device from an unknown source, and it’s critical that your system stays intact? Most likely it’s no problem, but if you need a way to test such unknown gadgets, then the USB Killer Detector could be the just what you need. Carlos Guzman's board, now funding on GroupGets, allows you to plug in a USB unit, then test it with the press of a button. A green LED light comes on to let you know it’s active, and if it senses something amiss, a red light also lights up to signify danger.

Although not everyone would need such a device, for those that do, it should be well worth it’s $35 price tag. You can see it in action in the video below.