Why BusKill?

BusKill is a Dead Man Switch triggered when a magnetic breakaway is tripped, severing a USB connection. Checkout this video demonstration:

Your data is your data.

Keep your accounts and encrypted data safe from thieves.

SECURE

BusKill can trigger your laptop to lock, shutdown, or self-destruct if it’s physically separated from you.

SIMPLE

BusKill is a hardware USB cable. No flapping bluetooth.

OPEN SOURCE

BusKill is licensed under CC-BY-SA and code is GPLv3.

Featured On

PCMag [Forbes] [TechCrunch] [PCWorld] ZDNet Tom's Hardware Bleepin Computer PC Gamer Coindesk [Heise] [Golem.de] PPLware Korben Computer Hoy Xataka [CNX] Hack Read
Looking for our logo or other digital assets? See our Press Kit

See what others are saying about #BusKill

Clever idea

Bruce Schneier
Legendary Security Technologist
Operational security, or opsec, is key if you’re using crypto exchanges. This new trick can make you a bit safer in a crowded cafe.
John Biggs
Coindesk
Incredibly useful for security critical laptops.
Catalin Cimpanu
ZDNet
very practical idea using a USB drive and some udev rules to trigger a lockdown.
Harish Pillay
Chief Technology Architect, Red Hat
smart and simple method of adding a layer of physical protection when using your laptop in a public place.
Davey Winder
Forbes
This is brilliant and I can’t believe it hasn’t been invented and marketed yet.
Ray Watson
VP of Innovation at Masergy
Esta é uma forma simples e muito interessante de garantir a segurança física
Pedro Simões,
Pplware

Who benefits from BusKill?

Travelers

BusKill can provide travelers peace-of-mind when logged into their bank account or social media from a café in Paris.

Crypto Traders

Have a crypto wallet? BusKill can keep your coins safe while trading OTC. Or if you just day trade on an exchange from a coworking hot desk.

Journalists

Are you a journalist operating in an oppressive regime? BusKill can keep your documents and their sources safe if you’re targeted by the political police.

Activists
Businesses
Military/Intelligence

FAQ

No. Even if an exact replica was inserted, BusKill will still be triggered if it’s disconnected.

That’s good! But it won’t protect you if a thief snatch-and-runs with your laptop after you’ve authenticated.

The only way to defend against this sort of attack is by using a Dead Man Switch to detect that you’ve been replaced at the helm, such as BusKill.

Using a radio-based Dead Man Switch introduces complexity, delays, and an increased vector of attack. BusKill is a simple hardware kill cord and is therefore more secure than any wireless solution.

All of the BusKill Project’s content (including this documentation) is dual-licensed. All code is GPLv3 and all other content is CC-BY-SA. For licensing information, see our documentation

Hardware and software sources can be found on our GitHub

We recorded a demo of the BusKill cable triggering a lockscreen on three platforms here

We appreciate your skepticism 🙂 You can read our detailed write-up and forensic analysis on the LUKS Header Shredder here

BusKill cables can be purchased from the following authorized resellers:
If you’d like to become a reseller of BusKill cables, please contact us for information about our wholesale pricing.
Please see docs.buskill.in for our official project documentation
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Please see our Frequently Asked Questions in our official project documentation

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You can purchase a BusKill cable with fiat- or crypto-currency here.

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