# USB kill switches and anti-forensics privacy ratings

Tools that lock or shut down a computer when USB devices change, and other anti-forensic protections.

| Name | Grade | Jurisdiction | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Silk Guardian](https://privacyratings.com/usb-security/silk-guardian/) | B (80/100) | Unknown | Linux kernel module that, when any USB device is added or removed, can securely delete chosen files and then powers off the computer. It is an anti-forensic kill switch inspired by usbkill. |
| [swiftGuard](https://privacyratings.com/usb-security/swiftguard/) | B (80/100) | Unknown | macOS menu bar app that watches USB ports and shuts down or hibernates the Mac when an unknown device is connected or a whitelisted one is removed, with an optional countdown to cancel. |
| [usbkill](https://privacyratings.com/usb-security/usbkill/) | B (80/100) | Unknown | Python script that shuts down the computer as soon as a USB device is plugged in or removed, as an anti-forensic kill switch. It runs on Linux, BSD and macOS and has not been updated in years. |
| [BusKill](https://privacyratings.com/usb-security/buskill/) | C (65/100) | Unknown | Dead man's switch that locks the screen or shuts down a computer when a magnetic USB breakaway cable tethered to the user is pulled out. The open-source app runs on Linux, Windows and macOS, and the cables are sold by the project. |

## Criteria

- **Open source** (weight 3): Is all the source code needed to run the product public?
- **No trackers or telemetry** (weight 3): Are the website and apps free of third-party trackers, with any analytics anonymous and any telemetry off by default?
- **No ads or data sales** (weight 2): Is the product funded without advertising, ad targeting or selling user data?
- **Independent audit** (weight 2): Has an independent security or privacy audit been published within the last three years?

Source: https://privacyratings.com/usb-security/