USB Cable for Emergency Data Deletion on Laptops Now Available

The startup BusKill has begun taking orders for a USB cable with a magnetic connector that, at the user’s request, can make data on a laptop inaccessible within seconds, according to TechCrunch.

This cable is designed to protect data if the owner is physically separated from their device after logging in. Full disk encryption, multi-factor authentication, and strong passwords are not enough to stop this device.

BusKill plugs into a laptop, and if the magnetic connection is broken or the cable is pulled out, it automatically locks the device. On Linux, it can be configured to trigger data self-destruction. In the future, a feature to power off laptops will be added.

The cable is aimed at a wide range of users, from travelers and crypto traders to activists and journalists.

“Most people don’t store ultra-secret whistleblower documents or worry about the police knocking on their door, but BusKill is designed for exactly those situations. I’d like it to be available to journalists who may not use Linux or be familiar with the command line,” project creator Michael Altfield told the publication.

The gadget has been in development for over two years. It is an open-source project, and the source code is available on GitHub.

Prices for the device start at $59, and it can be ordered here. The cable comes with an app for Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing users to activate or deactivate the cable with a single click. It can also be purchased with cryptocurrency—Bitcoin and Monero are accepted.