Security Director Alert: USB Killer Stick II

Remember the USB Killer stick that indiscriminately and immediately fries about 95 percent of devices? (See the Security Scrapbook warning about it from last September.)

Well, now the company has released a new version that is even more lethal! And you can also buy an adapter pack, which lets you kill test devices with USB-C, Micro USB, and Lightning ports.

Further Reading: USB Killer, yours for £50, lets you easily fry almost every device

If you haven't heard of the USB Killer before, it's essentially a USB stick with a bunch of capacitors hidden within. When you plug it into a host device (a smartphone, a PC, an in-car or in-plane entertainment system), those capacitors charge up—and then a split second later, the stick dumps a huge surge of electricity into the host device, at least frying the port, but usually disabling the whole thing...

The new USB Killer V3, which costs about £50/$50, is apparently 1.5 times more powerful than its predecessor, is more lethal (it pumps out eight to 12 surges per second), and is itself more resistant to setups that might cause the USB Killer to fry itself. more

Spybusters Tip #783 - Block your USB ports with a USB lock and security tape. Aside from Killer Stick sabotage, USB ports are virus injection portals.

German Parents told to Destroy Cayla

An official watchdog in Germany has told parents to destroy a talking doll called Cayla because its smart technology can reveal personal data.

The warning was issued by the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur), which oversees telecommunications.

Researchers say hackers can use an insecure bluetooth device embedded in the toy to listen and talk to the child playing with it.

Manufacturer Genesis Toys has not yet commented on the German warning. more