Hardware designers of public machines…
…with exposed USB ports should ensure that their systems resist electrical attacks.
Quote from the front page: "If you use a charger or USB port that is not your own - the device can steal your data while you are charging. Using a USB Kill Shield will prevent devices from having access to your data."
This isn't the case of a gate that fails open. This is the case of a gate that gets hit by a rocket launcher, which blows the gate open and destroys the datacenter behind it.
What's next. A taser with an HDMI connector?
Something like this (or even a USB to Lightning charger cable):
https://www.amazon.com/HIOTECH®-Adapter-Lightning-Female-iPh...
Would this destroy the Lightning controller in the adapter/cable, or would it work to destroy the iPhone?
"Hardware designers of public machines should have a USB Kill to test their products: photo booths, copy machines, airline entertainment systems, ticket terminals, etc - anything with exposed USB ports should ensure that their systems resist electrical attacks."
Seems like a form of hardware pentesting to me, so for security experts and hardware designers, this looks like a pretty useful tool. :)
I am going to research for lockable USB dongles you can insert and remove only with a key.
I imagine that the USB PHY of a well designed system exposed to this attack will not survive, but the entire system won't be so easily nerfed either.