Student destroys 66 computers at American university with USB stick
An Indian student has confessed to having physically disabled 66 computers at an American university with a USB stick. According to the public prosecutor, the stick sent a command that broke the computers.
According to the American public prosecutor, 27-year-old Indian Vishwanath Akuthota is suspected of having destroyed equipment of The College of St. Rose, a university in the city of Albany in New York state, with a USB stick. In February 2019, he allegedly plugged a USB killer device into 66 computers, as well as multiple monitors and computer-enhanced podiums.
According to the prosecutor, a USB killer sends a command to the computer that causes the capacitors of a computer to charge and discharge quickly and repeatedly. In this way, the USB port and electrical systems of the computer are physically destroyed, according to the public prosecutor.
This is probably a device like the USB Kill. This USB device uses power from the computer to charge the capacitors of the USB Kill itself. Once charged, the USB Kill sends approximately 200 volts DC through the USB port to the computer. This charge and discharge cycle is repeated until the device is removed or the circuit in the computer is broken, explain the makers of the USB Kill. The makers call it a test device to allow manufacturers to check whether their computer is susceptible to this attack.
According to the prosecutor, Akuthota has now confessed that he deliberately destroyed the computers. He also recorded his act on his phone and, according to the public prosecutor, he makes comments like ‘I’m going to kill this guy’ during his actions. He confessed to his actions, which cost the university almost 52,000 euros, and says he will pay this back.
His prison sentence is set in August 2019. He could be sentenced to a maximum of ten years in prison and a fine of up to 222,000 euros. After his release, he could be kept under surveillance for another three years. It is unknown why he broke the computers. According to the regional Times Union newspaper, he had graduated with an MBA in December 2017.