A USB Killer is a USB drive that was altered to emit an electrical surge that can break or destroy hardware when a modified flash drive is plugged into a computer's USB port.
The concept for USB Killers was created by a Russian researcher named Dark Purple with the stated objective to eliminate delicate computer parts. When a USB Killer device is inserted into a USB port, it draws power from the devices' USB power sources and stores it in its own capacitors. It holds this procedure until a high voltage is reached. Once finished, it discharges the accumulated negative 220 volts of high voltage onto the USB data pins. An estimated 215–220 volts can be produced by the USB Killers that are now on the market. The host device's circuitry is harmed or destroyed as a result.
Its capacitors rapidly accumulate this enormous voltage. As long as the gadget is connected and hasn't been damaged to the point that it can no longer charge itself, the charge/discharge cycle also continues numerous times per second.
This approach makes nearly any unprotected equipment susceptible to high voltage attack. For years, malicious software has been spread via USB sticks, including viruses that can infect computers. This is probably because they are easy and affordable to design and buy. Unaware users frequently utilize them to store and transport data.
A USB Killer Attack: How to Prevent It
1. Keep Unknown Drives Out of the Plug
Social engineering, or using deceptive techniques to persuade people to connect a malicious device, is at the heart of many USB risks.
2. When possible, turn off USB ports
If it is possible, disabling USB ports is a great way to stop USB attacks, including USB Killer attacks.
3. Register online
A computer's virtual environment that hosts a mockup of your computer inside of your computer. It won't have an impact on your data or network if you connect to the drive and open it in the virtual environment.
It swiftly ruins a PC once you plug it into a USB port. Moreover, refraining from using unknown USB devices on computers is the greatest approach to stop USB Killers from causing PC damage. The majority of USB-related attacks can be effectively prevented by following the best cybersecurity measures. For complete security, you can physically cap and disable the USB ports in your business.
Even measures implemented to guard against USB assaults are not 100% secure. Never trust unknown disks, periodically examine those you do use, and utilize security features like passwords, PIN codes, and data encryption. Ideally, being informed of the strategies that hackers employ as well as having strong hardware and software security can keep you safe from any unpleasant digital illnesses.
