Despite the increase in the storage of files and documents on cloud-based systems, the humble USB is still playing an integral part in our lives. From offices to homes, this convenient tool is used for quickly and easily transferring files from one device to another.

However, just because they may seem harmless doesn’t mean they can’t give your cause for concern. If you have ever connected your USB to an infected computer it is likely that it has become infected with malware. What’s more, if you thought that a virus was the worst thing that could happen to your USB then you’re mistaken – a USB could, literally, fry your computer.

Russian security expert Dark Purple has recently proven this and has developed an updated version of his so-called USB Killer; a USB capable of destroying a laptop but by connecting the two devices.

His first device managed to discharge 110 volts of electricity on the USB port when it was connected, but the new USB Killer 2.0 has managed to increase further the voltage that it can transmit, making it capable of relative destruction. If we consider that a USB port can handle around 5 volts, his invention goes far beyond what it is capable of tolerating, and in just a few seconds the USB Killer can destroy the motherboard.

In order to achieve this, the USB that he uses has been modified to use a DC-to-DC converter and various condensers. When it is connected, it begin to transmit an electrical current to the condensers, which turn into tension points as a consequence of this powerful charge.

The Dark Purple system not only manages to destroy computers with this method, but also any technological device that has a USB port. It doesn’t matter if it is a laptop, a desktop computer, or a tablet – this USB is designed to destroy the motherboard of any device, regardless of its size.

Although the investigator hasn’t carried out tests on all devices, his demonstration of the USBs power in destroying a Lenovo ThinkPad X60 leaves us with little doubt as to the potential of the USB Killer 2.0. The effects of his demonstration were immediate, with the computer automatically shutting down and it was impossible to restart it.

The post USB Killer: the storage tool that destroys your computer appeared first on MediaCenter Panda Security.

Despite the need to print off documents having a less important role in our lives in the era of smartphones, there are still some things that we need to print off as there aren’t many other options. This is true of boarding cards, which hold a surprisingly important amount of private information which needs to be kept out of the hands of others if you don’t want to run any risks.

The usual protocol after returning from vacation is to throw out the airline tickets without giving them another thought, assuming that nobody is going to trawl through the garbage looking for an out-of-date ticket. Unfortunately, this is exactly what suspicious characters will do, knowing that these pieces of paper are the key to a whole host of private details and information.

What is even worse, however, is taking a photo of your boarding card and publishing it on Facebook or Twitter, especially if your privacy settings aren’t properly configured. By uploading this seemingly innocent image to make your friends jealous, you are inadvertently sharing your details with any user of the Internet who could use the information captured in the image for their potential benefit.

“The barcodes on boarding cards could let anyone discover information about you, your holiday plans, and your frequent flyer account”, according to IT security expert Brian Krebs.

It isn’t always like this, and sometimes the barcode only reveals information such as your name, date of the flight, the related airports, etc. However, in some cases the barcode can turn into a potential goldmine of personal information which can be used to attack your user account in the airline’s website.

The information stored on the barcodes can be extracted by using free access tools and can be interpreted by using step-by-step guides which explain each element.

The real danger that’s stored on these boarding cards is the frequent flyer number, which can be used to access your user account on the airline’s website. Knowing the name and surname of a passenger along with their frequent flyer number is “the first step to getting the password”, states Krebs.

Once inside, among other things, you can check out sensitive personal information (telephone numbers or the accompanying passengers) and even change or cancel upcoming flights. The intruder can even change the access requirements by guessing the answer to a security question – something which we have pointed out before as being rather easy to do.

This vulnerability, according to Krebs, “has created a black market for hacked frequent flyer accounts”. If you don’t want to end up being the next victim, the best thing to do is destroy your boarding cards before throwing them in the garbage or, better yet, use the official airline apps and by-pass the paper option altogether.

The post Don’t be careless when throwing away your used boarding cards! appeared first on MediaCenter Panda Security.