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A comment on Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB Killer device. Parent comment

Re:Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB... by anonlastname on Thursday April 18, 2019 @10:57AM (#19691455)
I could see it being useful for when you want an easy way to get a high voltage spike out of a 5v power supply. For example, if you wanted to build a board for igniting the gas in a potato gun that ran off of a USB power bank.
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Re:Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB... by semi-extrinsic on Friday April 19, 2019 @07:01AM (#19698501)
Then you want something like one of these instead:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-3V-5V-Arc-Generator-High-Voltage...

You also want to use the gas dispenser from a Paslode impact gun, an air mattress inflator and a Zodiac check valve for the air purge.

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Re:Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB... by TeMPOraL on Friday April 19, 2019 @04:35AM (#19697940)
Speaking of power banks, what would happen if you plugged this device directly to one?
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Re:Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB... by vortico on Friday April 19, 2019 @05:29AM (#19698124)
Only one way to find out!
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Re:Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB... by huseyinkeles on Friday April 19, 2019 @05:30AM (#19698129)
most power banks don't have the data lines, and as far as I see this device uses the data lines to destroy the host. So I'll guess nothing would happen.
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Re:Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB... by londons_explore on Monday April 22, 2019 @04:29AM (#19717376)
You could design one which did destruction via the power lines if you wanted to.

That's much harder though because power lines tend to have big-ish capacitors on them.

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