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{{Short description|Computer Kill Cord}}
{{Short description|Computer kill cord}}
{{Draft topics|internet-culture|software|computing|technology}}
{{AfC topic|other}}
{{AfC submission|||ts=20220704070518|u=Maltfield|ns=118}}
{{AfC submission|t||ts=20220703193309|u=CX Zoom|ns=2|demo=}}
{{Infobox software
{{Infobox software
| name = BusKill
| name = BusKill
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| released = {{start date and age|2020|08|02}}<ref name="initial_release" />
| released = {{start date and age|2020|08|02}}<ref name="initial_release" />
| discontinued =
| discontinued =
| latest release version = v0.5.0
| latest release version = v0.7.0
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2022|07|22|}}
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2023|06|17|}}
| latest preview version =
| latest preview version =
| latest preview date = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} -->
| latest preview date = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} -->
| status = Active
| programming language = [[Python (programming language)|Python]]
| programming language = [[Python (programming language)|Python]]
| operating system = [[Linux]], [[OS X]], [[Windows]], [[Qubes OS]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.buskill.in/qubes-os/ |title=A Laptop Kill Cord for QubesOS|last=Altfield|first=Michael|date=2022-01-04|access-date=2022-07-02 | language=English}}</ref>
| operating system = [[Linux]], [[OS X]], [[Windows]], [[Qubes OS]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.buskill.in/qubes-os/ |title=A Laptop Kill Cord for QubesOS|last=Altfield|first=Michael|date=2022-01-04|access-date=2022-07-02 | language=English}}</ref>
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| language footnote =
| language footnote =
| genre = [[Anti-computer forensics|Anti-forensic]]
| genre = [[Anti-computer forensics|Anti-forensic]]
| license = [[CC-BY-SA]], [[GNU General Public License|GPLv3]]<ref name="license">{{cite web |url=https://docs.buskill.in/buskill-app/en/stable/license.html |title=License |publisher=BusKill |access-date=2022-07-02 |archive-url= |archive-date=|url-status=live }}</ref>
| license = [[CC BY-SA]], [[GNU General Public License|GPLv3]]<ref name="license">{{cite web |url=https://docs.buskill.in/buskill-app/en/stable/license.html |title=License |publisher=BusKill |access-date=2022-07-02 |archive-url= |archive-date=}}</ref>
| alexa =
| alexa =
| website = {{URL|https://buskill.in}}
| website = {{URL|https://buskill.in}}
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}}
}}


'''BusKill''' is an [[open-source hardware]] and [[open-source software|software]] project that designs computer [[kill_cord|kill cords]] to protect the [[Information_security#Confidentiality|confidentiality]] of the system's data from physical [[theft]]. The hardware designs are licensed [[CC-BY-SA]] and the software is licensed [[GPLv3]]. BusKill cables are available commercially from the official website or through authorized distributors.
'''BusKill''' is an [[open-source hardware]] and [[open-source software|software]] project that designs computer [[kill cord]]s to protect the [[Information security#Confidentiality|confidentiality]] of the system's data from physical [[theft]]. The hardware designs are licensed [[CC BY-SA]] and the software is licensed [[GPLv3]]. BusKill cables are available commercially from the official website or through authorized distributors.


The name BusKill is an amalgamation of “Bus” from [[USB]] and “Kill” from [[Kill cord]].<ref name="darknetdaily">{{cite web |url=https://darknetdaily.com/2021/12/05/interview-with-michael-altfield-the-mind-behind-buskill-the-worlds-first-usb-kill-cord/|title=Interview with Michael Altfield, the Mind Behind BusKill - the World's First USB Kill Cord - Dark Net Daily }}</ref>
The name BusKill is an amalgamation of "Bus" from [[USB]] and "Kill" from kill cord.<ref name="darknetdaily">{{cite web |url=https://darknetdaily.com/2021/12/05/interview-with-michael-altfield-the-mind-behind-buskill-the-worlds-first-usb-kill-cord/|title=Interview with Michael Altfield, the Mind Behind BusKill - the World's First USB Kill Cord - Dark Net Daily|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217053610/https://darknetdaily.com/2021/12/05/interview-with-michael-altfield-the-mind-behind-buskill-the-worlds-first-usb-kill-cord/|archive-date=2021-12-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


== History ==
== History ==
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[[File:buskill_cable_2022.jpg|thumb|The BusKill Kit in 2022]]
[[File:buskill_cable_2022.jpg|thumb|The BusKill Kit in 2022]]


The first computer kill cord was built by Michael Altfield in 2017<ref>{{cite AV media | people=Helen Leigh | date=Jan 14, 2022 | title=Teardown Session 17: OpSec and Privacy with Michael Altfield | type=Video Interview | language=English | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahnJYDBopCc&t=642s | access-date= 2022-07-02 | time = 12 minutes, 35 seconds | location=Berlin, Germany | publisher= [[Crowd Supply]] | quote=I decided to build this for myself actually in 2017, and then I published the article in 2020.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://thesocialtalks.com/technology/an-interview-of-michael-altfield-by-sasidhar/|title=An interview of Michael Altfield |last=Sasidhar |date=January 2022 |access-date=2022-07-14 |language=English}}</ref>
The first computer kill cord was built by Michael Altfield in 2017.<ref>{{cite AV media | people=Helen Leigh | date=Jan 14, 2022 | title=Teardown Session 17: OpSec and Privacy with Michael Altfield | type=Video Interview | language=English | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahnJYDBopCc&t=642s | access-date= 2022-07-02 | time = 12 minutes, 35 seconds | location=Berlin, Germany | publisher= [[Crowd Supply]] | quote=I decided to build this for myself actually in 2017, and then I published the article in 2020.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://thesocialtalks.com/technology/an-interview-of-michael-altfield-by-sasidhar/|title=An interview of Michael Altfield |last=Sasidhar |date=January 2022 |access-date=2022-07-14 |language=English}}</ref>


The term “BusKill” was coined by Altfield in January 2020 when publishing the first BusKill build and [[udev]] usage instructions (Linux-only),<ref name="initial_release">{{cite web |url=https://tech.michaelaltfield.net/2020/01/02/buskill-laptop-kill-cord-dead-man-switch/ |title=Introducing BusKill: A Kill Cord for your Laptop |last=Altfield |first=Michael |date=2020-01-02 |website=Michael Altfield’s Tech Blog|access-date=2022-07-02 |quote=This post will introduce a simple udev rule and ~$20 in USB hardware that effectively implements a kill cord Dead Man Switch to trigger your machine to self-destruct in the event that you're kicked out of the helm position.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/daveywinder/2020/01/03/this-20-usb-cable-is-a-dead-mans-switch-for-your-linux-laptop/ |title=This $20 USB Cable Is A Dead Man's Switch For Your Laptop |last=Winder |first=Davey |date=Jan 3, 2020 |work=[[Forbes]] |access-date= 2022-07-02 | language=English}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://korben.info/un-cable-usb-pour-autodetruire-votre-ordinateur-sous-linux-sil-est-vole-voici-buskill.html |title=Un câble USB pour autodétruire votre ordinateur sous Linux s'il est volé ? Voici BusKill ! |author=Korben |date=2020-02-06|publisher=[[:fr:Korben]] |access-date=2022-07-02 | language=French}}</ref> and it was ported by cyberkryption from Linux to Windows a couple weeks later.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=cyberkryption |number=1218622293271810048 |title=Here's my port of @MichaelAltfield #BusKill to windows in python |language=English|access-date=2022-07-02 |link=https://twitter.com/cyberkryption/status/1218622293271810048}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://github.com/BusKill/buskill-windows |title=GitHub - BusKill/buskill-windows: Windows port for the BusKill Kill Cord |website=GitHub |date=4 January 2022 |access-date=2022-07-02}}</ref> The project's official website launched the following month.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=BusKillin |number=1229349862921195520 |title=Due to popular demand, #BusKill now has a website! |language=English|access-date=2022-07-02 |link=https://twitter.com/BusKillin/status/1229349862921195520}}</ref>
The term "BusKill" was coined by Altfield in January 2020 when publishing the first BusKill build and [[udev]] usage instructions (Linux-only),<ref name="initial_release">{{cite web |url=https://tech.michaelaltfield.net/2020/01/02/buskill-laptop-kill-cord-dead-man-switch/ |title=Introducing BusKill: A Kill Cord for your Laptop |last=Altfield |first=Michael |date=2020-01-02 |website=Michael Altfield’s Tech Blog|access-date=2022-07-02 |quote=This post will introduce a simple udev rule and ~$20 in USB hardware that effectively implements a kill cord Dead Man Switch to trigger your machine to self-destruct in the event that you're kicked out of the helm position.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/daveywinder/2020/01/03/this-20-usb-cable-is-a-dead-mans-switch-for-your-linux-laptop/ |title=This $20 USB Cable Is A Dead Man's Switch For Your Laptop |last=Winder |first=Davey |date=Jan 3, 2020 |work=[[Forbes]] |access-date= 2022-07-02 | language=English}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://korben.info/un-cable-usb-pour-autodetruire-votre-ordinateur-sous-linux-sil-est-vole-voici-buskill.html |title=Un câble USB pour autodétruire votre ordinateur sous Linux s'il est volé ? Voici BusKill ! |author=Korben |date=2020-02-06|publisher=[[:fr:Korben]] |access-date=2022-07-02 | language=French}}</ref> and it was ported by cyberkryption from Linux to Windows a couple weeks later.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=cyberkryption |number=1218622293271810048 |title=Here's my port of @MichaelAltfield #BusKill to windows in python |language=English|access-date=2022-07-02 |link=https://twitter.com/cyberkryption/status/1218622293271810048}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://github.com/BusKill/buskill-windows |title=GitHub - BusKill/buskill-windows: Windows port for the BusKill Kill Cord |website=GitHub |date=4 January 2022 |access-date=2022-07-02}}</ref> The project's official website launched the following month.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=BusKillin |number=1229349862921195520 |title=Due to popular demand, #BusKill now has a website! |language=English|access-date=2022-07-02 |link=https://twitter.com/BusKillin/status/1229349862921195520}}</ref>


The first OS X version of the BusKill app was released in May 2020<ref>{{cite web |url=https://github.com/BusKill/buskill-mac/commits/ |title=Commits · BusKill/buskill-mac · GitHub |website=GitHub |access-date=2022-07-02}}</ref> by Steven Johnson.
The first OS X version of the BusKill app was released in May 2020<ref>{{cite web |url=https://github.com/BusKill/buskill-mac/commits/ |title=Commits · BusKill/buskill-mac · GitHub |website=GitHub |access-date=2022-07-02}}</ref> by Steven Johnson.


A cross-platform rewrite of the software based on [[Kivy (framework)|kivy]] was released in August 2020 with support for [[Linux]], [[OS X]], and [[Windows]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://github.com/BusKill/buskill-app/commits/v0.1.0 | title=Commits · BusKill/buskill-app | website=[[GitHub]] |access-date=2022-07-02}}</ref>
A cross-platform rewrite of the software based on [[Kivy (framework)|Kivy]] was released in August 2020 with support for [[Linux]], [[OS X]], and [[Windows]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://github.com/BusKill/buskill-app/commits/v0.1.0 | title=Commits · BusKill/buskill-app | website=[[GitHub]] |access-date=2022-07-02}}</ref>


In December 2021, [[Alt Shift International OÜ]] ran a crowdfunding campaign to manufacture BusKill cables on [[Crowd Supply]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.golem.de/news/buskill-magnetisches-kabel-dient-als-killswitch-fuer-notebooks-2112-161861.html |title=Magnetisches Kabel dient als Killswitch für Notebooks |last=Nickel |first= Oliver |date=Dec 16, 2021|publisher=[[Computec]] |access-date=2022-07-02 | language=German}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://gigazine.net/news/20211216-buskill-usb-cable-pc-kill-switch/ |title=ログイン中のPCが盗まれた時に強制的にPCをシャットダウンしてデータを保護してくれるUSBデバイス「BusKill」 |date=Dec 16, 2021|publisher=[[:jp:GIGAZINE]] |access-date=2022-07-02 | language=Japanese}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.20minutos.es/tecnologia/cable-usb-bloquea-destruye-ordenador-proteger-datos-caso-robo-4927672/ |title=Este cable USB bloquea o destruye un ordenador para proteger los datos en caso de robo|date=Dec 17, 2021|publisher=[[20 minutos]] |access-date=2022-07-02 | language=Spanish}}</ref> The campaign raised $18,507 by January 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.crowdsupply.com/alt-shift/buskill |title=BusKill {{!}} Crowd Supply |website=[[Crowd Supply]] |access-date=2022-07-02}}</ref>
In December 2021, [[Alt Shift International OÜ]] ran a crowdfunding campaign to manufacture BusKill cables on [[Crowd Supply]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.golem.de/news/buskill-magnetisches-kabel-dient-als-killswitch-fuer-notebooks-2112-161861.html |title=Magnetisches Kabel dient als Killswitch für Notebooks |last=Nickel |first= Oliver |date=Dec 16, 2021|publisher=[[Computec]] |access-date=2022-07-02 | language=German}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://gigazine.net/news/20211216-buskill-usb-cable-pc-kill-switch/ |title=ログイン中のPCが盗まれた時に強制的にPCをシャットダウンしてデータを保護してくれるUSBデバイス「BusKill」 |date=Dec 16, 2021|publisher=[[:jp:GIGAZINE]] |access-date=2022-07-02 | language=Japanese}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.20minutos.es/tecnologia/cable-usb-bloquea-destruye-ordenador-proteger-datos-caso-robo-4927672/ |title=Este cable USB bloquea o destruye un ordenador para proteger los datos en caso de robo|date=Dec 17, 2021|publisher=[[20 minutos]] |access-date=2022-07-02 | language=Spanish}}</ref> The campaign raised $18,507 by January 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.crowdsupply.com/alt-shift/buskill |title=BusKill |website=[[Crowd Supply]] |access-date=2022-07-02}}</ref>


== Hardware ==
== Hardware ==


The BusKill cable is a [[kill cord]] that physically tethers a user to their computer with a USB cable.<ref name="demo-2">{{cite AV media | people=Michael Altfield | date=Jan 18, 2022 | title=BusKill Cross-Platform Demo (v0.4.0)| type=Video Demo | language=English | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6eT8JSIgjw&t=65s | access-date= 2022-07-02 | time = 1 minute, 5 seconds | location=Berlin,Germany}}</ref><ref name="zdnet">{{cite web |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/new-usb-cable-kills-your-linux-laptop-if-stolen-in-a-public-place/ |title=New USB cable kills your Linux laptop if stolen in a public place |last=Cimpanu |first=Catalin |date=Jan 2, 2020 |publisher=[[ZDNet]] |access-date= 2022-07-02 | language=English}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2020/01/03/buskill-is-a-diy-tool-to-lock-down-your-laptop/ |title=BusKill Is a DIY Tool to Lock Down Your Laptop |last=Biggs |first=John |date=Jan 3, 2020|publisher=[[CoinDesk]] |access-date= 2022-07-02 | language=English}}</ref>
The BusKill cable is a kill cord that physically tethers a user to their computer with a USB cable.<ref name="demo-2">{{cite AV media | people=Michael Altfield | date=Jan 18, 2022 | title=BusKill Cross-Platform Demo (v0.4.0)| type=Video Demo | language=English | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6eT8JSIgjw&t=65s | access-date= 2022-07-02 | time = 1 minute, 5 seconds | location=Berlin, Germany}}</ref><ref name="zdnet">{{cite web |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/new-usb-cable-kills-your-linux-laptop-if-stolen-in-a-public-place/ |title=New USB cable kills your Linux laptop if stolen in a public place |last=Cimpanu |first=Catalin |date=Jan 2, 2020 |publisher=[[ZDNet]] |access-date= 2022-07-02 | language=English}}</ref>


One end of the cable plugs into a computer. The other end of the cable is a carabiner that attaches to the user.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.buskill.in/buskill-app/en/stable/hardware_usr/index.html|title=Hardware User Guide | access-date=2022-07-02 | language=English}}</ref>
One end of the cable plugs into a computer. The other end of the cable is a [[carabiner]] that attaches to the user.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.buskill.in/buskill-app/en/stable/hardware_usr/index.html|title=Hardware User Guide | access-date=2022-07-02 | language=English}}</ref>


In the middle of the cable is a magnetic breakaway coupler, to allow the cable to be safely separated at any angle without physically damaging the computer or the user.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.buskill.in/buskill-app/en/stable/hardware_dev/assembly.html|title=Assembly of components| access-date=2022-07-02 | language=English}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/programmers-usb-cable-can-kill-laptop-if-machine-is-yanked-away |title=Programmer's USB Cable Can Kill Laptop If Machine is Yanked Away |last=Kan |first=Michael |date=Jan 2, 2020 |publisher=[[PCMag]] |access-date=2022-07-02 | language=English}}</ref>
In the middle of the cable is a magnetic breakaway coupler, to allow the cable to be safely separated at any angle without physically damaging the computer or the user.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.buskill.in/buskill-app/en/stable/hardware_dev/assembly.html|title=Assembly of components| access-date=2022-07-02 | language=English}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/programmers-usb-cable-can-kill-laptop-if-machine-is-yanked-away |title=Programmer's USB Cable Can Kill Laptop If Machine is Yanked Away |last=Kan |first=Michael |date=Jan 2, 2020 |publisher=[[PCMag]] |access-date=2022-07-02 | language=English}}</ref>


An [[3D_printing|3D-printable]] hardware BusKill cable is currently under development.<ref name="github-usb-a-hardware">{{cite web |url=https://github.com/BusKill/usb-a-magnetic-breakaway/issues/2 |title=Design Shell in FreeCAD}}</ref>
A [[3D printing|3D-printable]] hardware BusKill cable is currently under development.<ref name="github-usb-a-hardware">{{cite web |url=https://github.com/BusKill/usb-a-magnetic-breakaway/issues/2 |title=Design Shell in FreeCAD|website=[[GitHub]] }}</ref><ref name="toms-hardware-3d-print-2023">{{cite web |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/news/3d-printable-buskill-cable |title=3D Print Your Own USB BusKill Module to Protect Data |last=Hill |first=Ash |date=May 2, 2023 |publisher=[[Tom's Hardware]] |access-date=2023-05-10 |language=English }}</ref><ref name="hackster-3d-print-2024">{{cite web |url=https://www.hackster.io/news/melanie-allen-wants-to-bring-dead-man-switches-to-all-with-a-3d-printable-buskill-adapter-8383a371ee2e |title=Melanie Allen Wants to Bring Dead-Man Switches to All with a 3D-Printable BusKill Adapter |last=Halfacree |first=Gareth |date=May 8, 2024 |publisher=[[Avnet|Hackster]] |access-date=2024-05-31 |language=English }}</ref>


== Software ==
== Software ==


The BusKill project maintains a cross-platform GUI app that [[Lock_screen|locks the screen]] when the cable's connection to the computer is severed and the app is in the "armed" state.<ref name="demo-2" /><ref name="pcworld">{{cite web |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/560619/this-usb-dead-mans-switch-cable-for-laptops-is-one-cat-tug-away-from-catastrophe.html |title=This USB 'dead man's switch' locks down (or kills) snatched laptops |last=Crider |first=Michael |date=Dec 17, 2021|publisher=[[PC World]] |access-date=2022-07-02 | language=English}}</ref>
The BusKill project maintains a cross-platform GUI app that can either [[Lock screen|lock the screen]] or [[Shutdown (computing)|shutdown]] the computer when the cable's connection to the computer is severed and the app is in the "armed" state.<ref name="demo-2" /><ref name="pcworld">{{cite web |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/560619/this-usb-dead-mans-switch-cable-for-laptops-is-one-cat-tug-away-from-catastrophe.html |title=This USB 'dead man's switch' locks down (or kills) snatched laptops |last=Crider |first=Michael |date=Dec 17, 2021|publisher=[[PC World]] |access-date=2022-07-02 | language=English}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.buskill.in/buskill-app/en/stable/software_usr/gui.html#trigger-selector|title=Software User Guide | access-date=2023-07-22 | language=English}}</ref>


== Use ==
== Use ==
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If the computer is separated from the user, then a magnetic breakaway in the cable causes a [[Libusb|USB hotplug removal]] event to execute a trigger in the app.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.buskill.in/buskill-app/en/stable/introduction/what.html|title=What is BusKill?| access-date=2022-07-02 | language=English}}</ref>
If the computer is separated from the user, then a magnetic breakaway in the cable causes a [[Libusb|USB hotplug removal]] event to execute a trigger in the app.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.buskill.in/buskill-app/en/stable/introduction/what.html|title=What is BusKill?| access-date=2022-07-02 | language=English}}</ref>


The trigger executed by the BusKill cable's removal can lock the screen, shutdown, or securely erase the [[LUKS]] header and [[Key_(cryptography)|master encryption keys]] within a few seconds of the cable's separation.<ref name="luks_header_shredder">{{cite web |url=https://www.buskill.in/luks-self-destruct/ |title=LUKS Header Shredder (BusKill Self-Destruct Trigger)|last=Altfield|first=Michael|date=Dec 28, 2021|access-date=2022-07-02 | language=English}}</ref><ref name="toms_hardware">{{cite web |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/news/buskill-usb-cable-now-available-a-pc-kill-switch-for-data-protection |title=BusKill USB Cable Now Available: A PC Kill Switch for Data Protection |last=Shilov |first=Anton |date=Dec 15, 2021|publisher=[[Tom's Hardware]] |access-date=2022-07-02 | language=English}}</ref><ref name="techcrunch">{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/16/buskill-kill-cord-self-destruct-laptop/ |title=This USB 'kill cord' can instantly wipe your laptop if snatched or stolen |last=Whittaker |first=Zack |date=Dec 17, 2021|publisher=[[TechCrunch]] |access-date=2022-07-02 | language=English}}</ref>
The trigger executed by the BusKill cable's removal can lock the screen, shutdown, or securely erase the [[LUKS]] header and [[Key (cryptography)|master encryption keys]] within a few seconds of the cable's separation.<ref name="luks_header_shredder">{{cite web |url=https://www.buskill.in/luks-self-destruct/ |title=LUKS Header Shredder (BusKill Self-Destruct Trigger)|last=Altfield|first=Michael|date=Dec 28, 2021|access-date=2022-07-02 | language=English}}</ref><ref name="toms_hardware">{{cite web |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/news/buskill-usb-cable-now-available-a-pc-kill-switch-for-data-protection |title=BusKill USB Cable Now Available: A PC Kill Switch for Data Protection |last=Shilov |first=Anton |date=Dec 15, 2021|publisher=[[Tom's Hardware]] |access-date=2022-07-02 | language=English}}</ref><ref name="techcrunch">{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/16/buskill-kill-cord-self-destruct-laptop/ |title=This USB 'kill cord' can instantly wipe your laptop if snatched or stolen |last=Whittaker |first=Zack |date=Dec 17, 2021|publisher=[[TechCrunch]] |access-date=2022-07-02 | language=English}}</ref>

If combined with [[Disk_encryption#Full_disk_encryption|Full Disk Encryption]], then these triggers can be used to ensure the [[confidentiality]] of data or be used as an [[Anti-computer_forensics|counter-forensics]] device.
If combined with [[Disk encryption#Full disk encryption|full disk encryption]], then these triggers can be used to ensure the [[confidentiality]] of data or be used as a [[anti-computer forensics|counter-forensics]] device.


== See also ==
== See also ==
Line 82: Line 77:
* [[USBKill]]
* [[USBKill]]
* [[Tails (operating system)]]
* [[Tails (operating system)]]
*[[List of data-erasing software]]
* [[List of data-erasing software]]
*[[List of free and open-source software packages]]
* [[List of free and open-source software packages]]


== References ==
== References ==
Line 89: Line 84:


==External links==
==External links==
* [https://buskill.in/ Official website]
* {{official website|https://buskill.in/}}
*{{GitHub|buskill/buskill-app}}
*{{GitHub|buskill/buskill-app}}


{{Cryptographic software}}
[[:Category:Software using the GPL license]]

⚫
[[:Category:Free software programmed in Python]]
[[:Category:Anti-forensic software]]
[[Category:Software using the GNU General Public License]]
[[:Category:Computer security software]]
[[Category:Free and open-source software]]
[[:Category:USB]]
[[Category:Free software programmed in Python]]
[[Category:Anti-forensic software]]
[[Category:Computer security software]]
⚫
[[Category:Security software]]
[[Category:Windows security software]]
[[Category:MacOS security software]]
[[Category:Linux security software]]
[[Category:Cross-platform software]]
[[Category:USB]]

Latest revision as of 06:50, 8 January 2025

BusKill
Original author(s)Michael Altfield
Developer(s)BusKill Development Team
Initial releaseAugust 2, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-08-02)[1]
Stable release
v0.7.0 / June 17, 2023; 18 months ago (2023-06-17)
Written inPython
Operating systemLinux, OS X, Windows, Qubes OS[2]
TypeAnti-forensic
LicenseCC BY-SA, GPLv3[3]
Websitebuskill.in

BusKill is an open-source hardware and software project that designs computer kill cords to protect the confidentiality of the system's data from physical theft. The hardware designs are licensed CC BY-SA and the software is licensed GPLv3. BusKill cables are available commercially from the official website or through authorized distributors.

The name BusKill is an amalgamation of "Bus" from USB and "Kill" from kill cord.[4]

History

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The original BusKill prototype from 2017
The BusKill Kit in 2022

The first computer kill cord was built by Michael Altfield in 2017.[5][6]

The term "BusKill" was coined by Altfield in January 2020 when publishing the first BusKill build and udev usage instructions (Linux-only),[1][7][8] and it was ported by cyberkryption from Linux to Windows a couple weeks later.[9][10] The project's official website launched the following month.[11]

The first OS X version of the BusKill app was released in May 2020[12] by Steven Johnson.

A cross-platform rewrite of the software based on Kivy was released in August 2020 with support for Linux, OS X, and Windows.[13]

In December 2021, Alt Shift International OÜ ran a crowdfunding campaign to manufacture BusKill cables on Crowd Supply.[14][15][16] The campaign raised $18,507 by January 2022.[17]

Hardware

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The BusKill cable is a kill cord that physically tethers a user to their computer with a USB cable.[18][19]

One end of the cable plugs into a computer. The other end of the cable is a carabiner that attaches to the user.[20]

In the middle of the cable is a magnetic breakaway coupler, to allow the cable to be safely separated at any angle without physically damaging the computer or the user.[21][22]

A 3D-printable hardware BusKill cable is currently under development.[23][24][25]

Software

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The BusKill project maintains a cross-platform GUI app that can either lock the screen or shutdown the computer when the cable's connection to the computer is severed and the app is in the "armed" state.[18][26][27]

Use

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If the computer is separated from the user, then a magnetic breakaway in the cable causes a USB hotplug removal event to execute a trigger in the app.[28]

The trigger executed by the BusKill cable's removal can lock the screen, shutdown, or securely erase the LUKS header and master encryption keys within a few seconds of the cable's separation.[29][30][31]

If combined with full disk encryption, then these triggers can be used to ensure the confidentiality of data or be used as a counter-forensics device.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Altfield, Michael (2020-01-02). "Introducing BusKill: A Kill Cord for your Laptop". Michael Altfield’s Tech Blog. Retrieved 2022-07-02. This post will introduce a simple udev rule and ~$20 in USB hardware that effectively implements a kill cord Dead Man Switch to trigger your machine to self-destruct in the event that you're kicked out of the helm position.
  2. ^ Altfield, Michael (2022-01-04). "A Laptop Kill Cord for QubesOS". Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  3. ^ "License". BusKill. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  4. ^ "Interview with Michael Altfield, the Mind Behind BusKill - the World's First USB Kill Cord - Dark Net Daily". Archived from the original on 2021-12-17.
  5. ^ Helen Leigh (Jan 14, 2022). Teardown Session 17: OpSec and Privacy with Michael Altfield (Video Interview). Berlin, Germany: Crowd Supply. Event occurs at 12 minutes, 35 seconds. Retrieved 2022-07-02. I decided to build this for myself actually in 2017, and then I published the article in 2020.
  6. ^ Sasidhar (January 2022). "An interview of Michael Altfield". Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  7. ^ Winder, Davey (Jan 3, 2020). "This $20 USB Cable Is A Dead Man's Switch For Your Laptop". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  8. ^ Korben (2020-02-06). "Un câble USB pour autodétruire votre ordinateur sous Linux s'il est volé ? Voici BusKill !" (in French). fr:Korben. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  9. ^ @cyberkryption (January 18, 2020). "Here's my port of @MichaelAltfield #BusKill to windows in python" (Tweet). Retrieved 2022-07-02 – via Twitter.
  10. ^ "GitHub - BusKill/buskill-windows: Windows port for the BusKill Kill Cord". GitHub. 4 January 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  11. ^ @BusKillin (February 17, 2020). "Due to popular demand, #BusKill now has a website!" (Tweet). Retrieved 2022-07-02 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ "Commits · BusKill/buskill-mac · GitHub". GitHub. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  13. ^ "Commits · BusKill/buskill-app". GitHub. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  14. ^ Nickel, Oliver (Dec 16, 2021). "Magnetisches Kabel dient als Killswitch für Notebooks" (in German). Computec. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  15. ^ "ログイン中のPCが盗まれた時に強制的にPCをシャットダウンしてデータを保護してくれるUSBデバイス「BusKill」" (in Japanese). jp:GIGAZINE. Dec 16, 2021. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  16. ^ "Este cable USB bloquea o destruye un ordenador para proteger los datos en caso de robo" (in Spanish). 20 minutos. Dec 17, 2021. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  17. ^ "BusKill". Crowd Supply. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  18. ^ a b Michael Altfield (Jan 18, 2022). BusKill Cross-Platform Demo (v0.4.0) (Video Demo). Berlin, Germany. Event occurs at 1 minute, 5 seconds. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  19. ^ Cimpanu, Catalin (Jan 2, 2020). "New USB cable kills your Linux laptop if stolen in a public place". ZDNet. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  20. ^ "Hardware User Guide". Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  21. ^ "Assembly of components". Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  22. ^ Kan, Michael (Jan 2, 2020). "Programmer's USB Cable Can Kill Laptop If Machine is Yanked Away". PCMag. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  23. ^ "Design Shell in FreeCAD". GitHub.
  24. ^ Hill, Ash (May 2, 2023). "3D Print Your Own USB BusKill Module to Protect Data". Tom's Hardware. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  25. ^ Halfacree, Gareth (May 8, 2024). "Melanie Allen Wants to Bring Dead-Man Switches to All with a 3D-Printable BusKill Adapter". Hackster. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  26. ^ Crider, Michael (Dec 17, 2021). "This USB 'dead man's switch' locks down (or kills) snatched laptops". PC World. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  27. ^ "Software User Guide". Retrieved 2023-07-22.
  28. ^ "What is BusKill?". Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  29. ^ Altfield, Michael (Dec 28, 2021). "LUKS Header Shredder (BusKill Self-Destruct Trigger)". Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  30. ^ Shilov, Anton (Dec 15, 2021). "BusKill USB Cable Now Available: A PC Kill Switch for Data Protection". Tom's Hardware. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  31. ^ Whittaker, Zack (Dec 17, 2021). "This USB 'kill cord' can instantly wipe your laptop if snatched or stolen". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
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