USB Killer PoC

⚠️Disclaimer

This project was built strictly for educational purposes only to raise awareness about hardware-level vulnerabilities. It should never be used maliciously, and I do not endorse deploying it outside of controlled environments.

Overview

The USB Killer PoC is a hardware-based proof of concept that demonstrates how easily physical devices can be compromised using malicious USB devices. This project involves building a USB device that, when plugged into a PC, discharges a high voltage into the USB power lines—permanently damaging or disabling the motherboard.

The USB Killer functions by rapidly charging a bank of capacitors using the 5V power line from the USB port. Once fully charged, the stored energy is discharged back into the USB data/power lines at high voltage (often over 200V), damaging components that aren’t designed to handle such spikes.

This USB Killer is single-use, you could install a toggle switch to enable recharging and reuse if you so wish.

Inside the USB Killer

The USB Killer functions by rapidly charging a bank of capacitors using the 5V power line from the USB port. Once fully charged, the stored energy is discharged back into the USB data/power lines at high voltage (often over 200V), damaging components that aren’t designed to handle such spikes.

Key Components:

• USB plug and housing
• Capacitor bank (e.g., 4–6 electrolytic capacitors)
• Voltage conversion circuit
• High-voltage switching mechanism
• Discharge loop and timing control

Note: The design intentionally avoids microcontrollers or digital logic—keeping it purely electrical to simulate a worst-case hardware-level exploit.

USB Killer PoC — Step-by-Step Build Guide

⚠️FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY

Safety Notes

• Capacitors at 200V can shock or burn you. Always discharge them before handling
• Never test near flammable surfaces
• Always store this device in a sealed, non-conductive container
• Do not use this on live, owned, or network-connected equipment

Components Required:

• ✅ 1x USB Male Connector (salvaged from an old cable or standalone)
• ✅ 4–6x Electrolytic Capacitors (200V+, e.g., 470µF 200V)
• ✅ 1x DC-DC Boost Converter (e.g., MT3608 module)
• ✅ 1x N-Channel MOSFET (e.g., IRF540N)
• ✅ 1x Zener Diode (e.g., 12V or 15V, for gate protection)
• ✅ 1x 10kΩ Resistor (for controlling the MOSFET gate)
• ✅ Perfboard (small size)
• ✅ Insulated wires (thin, flexible)
• ✅ Soldering iron, solder, flux
• ✅ Heat shrink tubing or electrical tape
• ✅ Multimeter (for testing voltage)
• ✅ Protective casing to house the final device (Optional)

⚙️ Step 1: Understand the Circuit Flow

Here’s what’s going to happen:

1. USB port gives 5V power
2. That 5V charges the capacitors via a boost converter (raises voltage to ~200V)
3. Once charged, a MOSFET triggers and dumps the high voltage back into the USB lines, damaging the connected device

We’re building a small, dangerous voltage loop

🔌 Step 2: Wire the Power Supply and Boost Converter

⚠️ This is high voltage — don’t touch the output when powered

• Cut open a USB cable or use a USB connector
  • Find the 5V (red) and GND (black) wires. Ignore the data wires for now
• Connect USB 5V and GND to the input of the boost converter
  • Use the terminal block or solder them directly
• Use a Multimeter and turn the small potentiometer on the boost converter to set the output voltage to ~200V

⚡ Step 3: Connect the Capacitor Bank

1. On your perfboard, mount the capacitors side by side.
2. Connect all capacitor positive legs together (this is the + rail).
3. Connect all capacitor negative legs together (this is the – rail).
4. Now, connect:
   • Boost converter + output → capacitor + rail
   • Boost converter – output → capacitor – rail

You’ve now created a high-voltage storage bank.

Optional: Add a 1kΩ resistor across the capacitor rails to slowly drain the charge after use.

🔄 Step 4: Build the Discharge Trigger

Now we’ll let that capacitor bank unleash its charge.

Place the MOSFET on the perfboard:

       _________
      |         |
Gate ——|       |—— Drain
      | MOSFET |
Source ——|_____|——

1. Drain connects to capacitor + rail
   • Take a wire from the positive rail of your capacitor bank
   • Solder that wire to the Drain pin of your MOSFET
2. Source connects to either:
   • Choose the line you want to destroy (5V = total kill, D+/D– = subtle damage)
   • Connect that target line to the Source pin of the MOSFET using a short insulated wire
3. Solder a 10kΩ resistor between the Gate and GND (this keeps it off by default)
   • Solder one leg of a 10kΩ resistor to the Gate pin
   • Solder the other leg to the GND rail (negative rail shared with capacitors and USB ground)
4. Add the Zener diode between Gate and Source (stripe side toward Gate). This protects the MOSFET
   • Solder the stripe side (cathode) of the Zener to the Gate
   • Solder the other side (anode) to the Source

🔁 When power flows to the Gate, the MOSFET will close the circuit, and the capacitors will dump their voltage.

💣 That’s the USB Killer!

💥 Step 5: Execute USB Killer

• On connection, the USB Killer will discharge within 1-3 seconds
• This typically results in a burnt motherboard, shorted circuits, or instant shutdown, please be careful when using