This Indian Man Used "USB Killer" To Destroy Over Rs 40 Lakh Worth Of College Computers

An alumnus of the College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York, went to court for sabotaging computers in the school with a total value of tens of thousands of dollars. He used a USB device built to overload and kill the computer's circuit immediately when plugged in. The report was released on Tuesday by the Albany Police Department, FBI and the Department of Justice.

Vishwanath Akuthota, 27-year-old alumni, faces a 10-year prison sentence, plus three years of being monitored after release. In addition, he has to pay Rs 1.7 crore ($250,000) in fine for acts of sabotaging property. On February 22, Akuthota was arrested in North Carolina, it was just one week after he installed USB Killer device into 66 computers across the college campus. The device he used is capable of overloading surge protectors in computers. Moreover, it can be purchased freely and easily online.

Akuthota recorded the whole scene where he installed this device on the school computer and he also said, "I'm going to kill this guy” while recording. All the PCs installed by him with this USB device were completely ruined and there was no way to recover. Thanks to this video, APD and the FBI have enough evidence to accuse him. The total value that Akuthota caused to Saint Rose was more than Rs 40 lakh ($58,471). According to his confession, he said he would pay the money back to the school. Saint Rose, is a small private college in New York, refused to give any comment.

Akuthota is an Indian man and currently lives in the United States through a visa. He graduated from Saint Rose in 2017 with a master's degree in business. Besides, he also studied computer information system. In 2016, Akuthota appeared in a video posted on the Saint Rose's Facebook. He said that becoming an entrepreneur is his biggest dream. He was also asked why he chose The College of Saint Rose to study. At that time Akuthota answered that he found this school could give him many opportunities and a better future, where he could learn many things and apply them to life. However, Akuthota refused to give the motive for him to commit acts of destroying this school property.