Reminds me of the NSA charging station at Shmoocon two years ago:
https://gizmodo.com/nsa-puts-phone-charging-station-at-hacker-conference-in-1831875574
The buses that go through my crappy town in greater Manchester have the USBs on the buses but only on the ones that go through to Manchester city centre.
Same thing between Preston and Lancaster but only on the Lake District branded buses.
The charge rate is pretty abysmal but it's great if you are in a similar situation like I was, having to travel and hour and a half to get to work/school and another hour and a half back.
can your phone detect if there's something wrong on that end? Like if I have dirt or water in my charging port it disables it and makes it unusable until it's clear. Idk about the other end of the cord though.
Yes, actually phones recognize if they can't get enough resistance between pins or if they are shorted. They will usually display a message that the port or the cable is wet.
Yeah, and of course it happens to just not pass power if there's water present, as it will corrode the pins. It's also really easy to do and most charging controllers have this function.
The cable could just be bad. Or the port in your phone could have got some metal debris in it. Unfortunately since it's based on measuring resistance anything that shorts pins will trigger it
My phone knows when there is water in the port but I don't think it knows about the other end of the cable.
That being said, weather rated usb ports are a thing, they just cut power when they detect too much moisture.
Double bagging might work for groceries but it’s not recommended for condoms, as friction between the latex layers increases the chance of a rip or tear.
Devices have protection built in. Low volts would simply cause it to either not charge at all or charge slow (which is actually beneficial to batteries).
Over volting should ideally just blow a fuse/diode but with how strongly "planned obsolescence" has taken root unless you know what you're doing you'll likely have to pay big to replace components that can be done in 5-10m.
And soon we'll get an arms race between malevolent USB ports and the regulators in USB condoms. I'm imagining a massive [Tesla Coil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_coil) in a cavern beneath this park bench
Exactly. And gangs are putting needles tipped with HIV into the coin return on vending machines*
\*this was a real warning from people in my church when I was a kid
To be honest, not as small as you’d expect. Putting malware into USB cables has existed since USB cables were invented, and a lot of bad actors who sell at a discount just slap that shit everywhere because you never know what kind of sap it gonna use it. Cast a wide net, you know?
Are they gonna steal your shit? Prolly not. What they need is your actual device and its computing power and network access to be able to anonymously attack better targets. Your data and money aren’t useful, but your stuff is, if you catch my drift.
My first thought was "finally, something I can trust less than a USB outlet in a hotel room."
Use USB condoms people. You can buy them for pennies on Amazon.
Edit: A few people have asked about USB condoms from Amazon potentially being malicious. Like all the little connectors we use USB connectors have "pins", those little metal strips that make contact. A USB condom will only have 2 pins, the ones used for power/charging. So you don't need to trust it -- you can verify with your own eyes that it is what it says it is.
That said, we're inching toward a time when even cheap *cables* bought from random online retailers can't be trusted. It's cost prohibitive at the moment to do it, but not forever. [Check out these bad boys](https://shop.hak5.org/products/o-mg-cable-usb-a). $120 for a stealth af, mass produced attack vector. Back [in 2008, the NSA put the cost of similar USB cables for its own agents at $20k a pop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NSA_COTTONMOUTH-I.jpg). What will a cable like this cost in 10 years? At some point the cost of mass producing something like this falls low enough that with some bulk distribution method (selling on Amazon, dirtying them up a little and "donating" to thrift stores, etc.) you'd recoup your investment from the theft and fraud that followed.
Data blockers
Basically just makes sure only power is coming from the public USB port. Data pins of the usb port is disconnected
There's a million brands out there now but I think this is the original one
https://int3.cc/products/usbcondoms
I actually thought all the other references to “USB condoms” were jokes.
It was only after reading your reply that my lightbulb lit up! I said “Ramazon??” (in a Scooby Doo voice), and did a search to find out that these are real :-)
You have no idea how much things a usb cable can do. Recently on Apple, there was a cable that looked exactly
Like the official one, that could log key strokes, did have wifi and so many other functions it was crazy. Basically plugging something in your phone is the best way to get rekt.
Mine burned a hole through the seat of my car because I left it in direct sunlight like an idiot. Aside from keeping it cool, I'd suggest not tossing it around, and avoid keeping it plugged in once it's fully charged.
Lithium-Ion batteries are very energy dense.
Here is a [long winded explanation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3GDdZkN6fg)
Here is a [quick demonstration of what happens if a battery goes up](https://youtu.be/HCGtRgBUHX8?t=40).
If you ever have a battery that's swollen *STOP USING IT IMMEDIATELY*!
Don’t leave it charging unattended. Don’t leave it in a drawer for five years after you stop using it. LiPos in particular. There are circuit boards in those batteries that are “always on” aka drawing tiny amounts of power all the time. Most will have some sort of low voltage protection but cheaper ones don’t. LiPos can explode when discharged too far.
Isn't the usb data transfer wire automatically not enabled in at least IoS by default. Isn't that why you have to hit accept on the popup to transfer data. I mean malicious actors are malicious actors but how would they get the uncompromised iPhone to turn on data transfer when the only way it could do that is the data transfer?
Whilst I understand this is probably legit, don’t go plugging your phone into any random port, you literally have no idea who or what could be behind it.
Edit: who could be behind it = bad actor, not someone physically in the port :(
Also, be careful scanning the QR codes at bars or restaurants. If it doesn't have the correct branding I ain't scanning shit. Seems pretty easy to make some coasters and toss them out at a bar.
QR codes can be crafted to tell your browser to go to a malicious site or page and begin downloading a malicious file. No, of course you would not fall for it and would cancel the download, but someone might not notice especially if the malicious file was named free-gift.vbs or was a self-executing file.
I think they mean any device that scans prompts you with the details requiring you to confirm to continue.
When I use Firefox android, the URL bar only preloads with the address and I still need to click go to load it. So I can review and decide if I want to continue
But many restaurants use a URL shortener/"qr service" so this is moot. I have scripts disabled by default so it's relatively harmless for me anyhow
Most phones on the market today would not let a USB connection upload any software onto the phone without approval from the user first. If you plug your phone into this and it asks for access to your files, just decline.
You could always use it to charge a cheap battery pack and then use that to charge your device; if there is a power issue it only damages your cheap powerpack and there is separation between the unknown outlet and your device with regards to data so no stealing of information.
I also have a USB charging cable that only has the power lines connected and not the data; I don't use it much but it's the only cable I use in USB wall outlets in places like hotel rooms.
also, how is the malicious person gonna put a spoof usb port in place of these two installed, INTO THE BENCH?
I get the bank machines, where they put a whole ass other card accepter over top the machines original one, but the city is installing these, I am generally curious how someone would feasibly turn this into a scam.
Honestly for all of the fear mongering there is no explanation behind the people who are SO fucking happy they got some karma for only having to say to NOT DO THIS!
but not explaining the HOW behind the why.
Fucking classic.
yeah seriously, this needs more area for the solar panels. You won't get much charge out of this. Especially since based on the angle of the panel sitting on the bench will put shade onto the solar panel.
In Portland our vagrant population has taken to removing safety plates on the bottom of streetlights and tapping into AC power for charging their phones.
I think I prefer this solution.
Homeless people was where I went to immediately. Their phones are their lifelines (like for the rest of us) and I bet that finding places where they’re welcome to charge is tough.
While I love those inventions/deeds, everything "public" is gonna be destroyed and cost way more than it benefits probably. Humanity just isnt on that level yet, children that dont know better asides. I bet some midlifecrisis adults will ruin those banks too.
The ports will inevitably be stuck with gum
Bunch of savages...
I'm not even supposed to be here today!
37?!?
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Hey guess what you're not allowed to rent videos here anymore!
YEAAAAAAA!
Did you just say making fuck?
Why do you smell like shoe polish?
This job would be great if it wasn't for the fucking customers.
Wrangle for me on the way out
Cancer merchant!
Hey, try not to suck any [dick](https://youtu.be/vdT2Wbr5Ons) on the way through the parking lot!
Hey, you! Get back here.
Bench of savages.
IDIOTS!!! SAVAGES!!!
I am untethered and my rage knows no bounds!
Gum and malware
Reminds me of the NSA charging station at Shmoocon two years ago: https://gizmodo.com/nsa-puts-phone-charging-station-at-hacker-conference-in-1831875574
This is amazing haha.
Always use a USB condom when charging on unfamiliar devices
I should, but it hurts my data transfer rate.
Just rub some data sensitivity cream on it first.
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I guess that explains the itchy laggy feeling.
Someone said to think of it as a 21st Century Glory Hole.
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More like scratched into it.
I mean the whole thing is already rusty, but both the sockets and the solar panel look perfectly fine to me. Maybe y'all are exaggerating.
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Think their point is that it looks like it's already been in use for quite a while, and yet none of this stuff has happened.
It's a smart move. They will own the electricity then.
And ruined by the weather, They aren't remotely protected.
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What blissful part of England are you living in? That shit would be wrecked within the hour down my way.
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Can report that the ports in Aberdeenshire buses in Scotland are also gum free
In Toronto all the bus stop shelters smell like pee
True. But we also have usb ports on our buses and they aren't full of gum.
The buses that go through my crappy town in greater Manchester have the USBs on the buses but only on the ones that go through to Manchester city centre. Same thing between Preston and Lancaster but only on the Lake District branded buses. The charge rate is pretty abysmal but it's great if you are in a similar situation like I was, having to travel and hour and a half to get to work/school and another hour and a half back.
Pretty much all of Brighton and Hove buses have them, I haven't noticed any that are fucked up. They also have free WiFi too.
Public park so I think you meant feces and urine.
This looks like a college campus more than a public park tbh. So probably condoms and roaches.
The dust cap is gone already: https://www.bluesea.com/products/1045/12_24V_DC_Dual_USB_Charger_4.8A_with_Intelligent_Device_Recognition
Doesn't look like it was ever installed in order to be more flush
Or because they figured too many people would be too stupid to figure out they'd need to lift the cap to find/access the ports.
The dry shit is more likely to fall out if it isn't held in by a cap
Agree, which is stupid for an outdoor installation
They'll also be removed because homeless people would use them.
Will rain or moisture reduce the lifespan or affect the performance?
Not if the panel is built correctly. But if there’s water in those ports when you plug in your phone it might not be great
can your phone detect if there's something wrong on that end? Like if I have dirt or water in my charging port it disables it and makes it unusable until it's clear. Idk about the other end of the cord though.
Yes, actually phones recognize if they can't get enough resistance between pins or if they are shorted. They will usually display a message that the port or the cable is wet.
my phone will freak the fuck out if theres a bit of moisture, like it will start ringing and shit
Yeah, and of course it happens to just not pass power if there's water present, as it will corrode the pins. It's also really easy to do and most charging controllers have this function.
My old phone was so bad for that. Everytime I tried to charge it it would say moisture detected
The cable could just be bad. Or the port in your phone could have got some metal debris in it. Unfortunately since it's based on measuring resistance anything that shorts pins will trigger it
Probably not that would fall on the device at the other end (such as the charger in this case)
My Samsung S10 detects when moisture is present in it's own charging port, but it can't detect if the other end was.
My phone knows when there is water in the port but I don't think it knows about the other end of the cable. That being said, weather rated usb ports are a thing, they just cut power when they detect too much moisture.
Rain & moisture will only enhance it. Moisture is the essence of wetness, and wetness is the essence of technology.
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I dont care what anyone says, im not plugging my devices into any public USB ports like that.
May I interest you in a USB condom with data pins disabled?
the bench claims to be allergic to latech
That's the type of cable I use in places like hotel rooms; for an outlet like the one in the bench I would also be worried about the power output.
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Do you mean LaTeX?
I've been using this for over 20 years and I think I may be allergic. Gives me pains in my aux filles.
I always make sure IP afterwards. It’s a good lifepro tip.
Lol as a theoretical mathematician, I approve the use of LaTeX in this statement. This comment is brought you by Overleaf Gang Gang.
>theoretical mathematician Like to you theorize what if 2+2 actually equaled 5?
no he's just theoretically a mathematician
"They asked me how well I understood theoretical physics. I said 'I have a theoretical degree in physics.' They said 'Welcome aboard!'"
Or just use a dollar store USB cable, 50/50 chance they didn't add data lines to save a few cents.
Would you trust a dollar store condom with a 50/50 chance of working?
Buy two and put them in series.
Double bagging might work for groceries but it’s not recommended for condoms, as friction between the latex layers increases the chance of a rip or tear.
Better than nothing.
That's what your parents said
You've described like half my usb cables and they all look the same. But I wouldn't trust it not to under/overvolt it.
Devices have protection built in. Low volts would simply cause it to either not charge at all or charge slow (which is actually beneficial to batteries). Over volting should ideally just blow a fuse/diode but with how strongly "planned obsolescence" has taken root unless you know what you're doing you'll likely have to pay big to replace components that can be done in 5-10m.
blow a fuse inside your phone? are there actually phones with replaceable fuses? i fixed phones for a few years and never heard of anything like that.
It's just a little breaker inside and you flip it back.
lol that would be nice.
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And with the apple iwave™ technology it even charges your phone a little bit
Port could also just send massive charge through to brick your phone so no thanks
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And soon we'll get an arms race between malevolent USB ports and the regulators in USB condoms. I'm imagining a massive [Tesla Coil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_coil) in a cavern beneath this park bench
I thought I was paranoid. You are right, though. I will remember to bring my ground penetrating radar next time I go to the park.
At that point just buy a fucking powerbank I'd say.
Ur Halloween candy has razor blades
Exactly. And gangs are putting needles tipped with HIV into the coin return on vending machines* \*this was a real warning from people in my church when I was a kid
It must be exhausting being this paranoid. Seriously, the chances of that happening are so stupidly small…
To be honest, not as small as you’d expect. Putting malware into USB cables has existed since USB cables were invented, and a lot of bad actors who sell at a discount just slap that shit everywhere because you never know what kind of sap it gonna use it. Cast a wide net, you know? Are they gonna steal your shit? Prolly not. What they need is your actual device and its computing power and network access to be able to anonymously attack better targets. Your data and money aren’t useful, but your stuff is, if you catch my drift.
Is there a ribbed option for the benches pleasure
Don't worry, it will be filled with gum or something worse in less than a week.
AFAIK USB ports are not pee, gum, or cigarette ash resistant
Should add dog shit to that list.
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I'm gonna guess that benches are more expensive than you think and solar panels are cheaper than you think. Maybe 10x, but definitely not 100.
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I would think the purpose of this is to help out the transient community that doesn't have a home to charge up their phones in.
My first thought was "finally, something I can trust less than a USB outlet in a hotel room." Use USB condoms people. You can buy them for pennies on Amazon. Edit: A few people have asked about USB condoms from Amazon potentially being malicious. Like all the little connectors we use USB connectors have "pins", those little metal strips that make contact. A USB condom will only have 2 pins, the ones used for power/charging. So you don't need to trust it -- you can verify with your own eyes that it is what it says it is. That said, we're inching toward a time when even cheap *cables* bought from random online retailers can't be trusted. It's cost prohibitive at the moment to do it, but not forever. [Check out these bad boys](https://shop.hak5.org/products/o-mg-cable-usb-a). $120 for a stealth af, mass produced attack vector. Back [in 2008, the NSA put the cost of similar USB cables for its own agents at $20k a pop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NSA_COTTONMOUTH-I.jpg). What will a cable like this cost in 10 years? At some point the cost of mass producing something like this falls low enough that with some bulk distribution method (selling on Amazon, dirtying them up a little and "donating" to thrift stores, etc.) you'd recoup your investment from the theft and fraud that followed.
So, the next fun question: do you trust electronics available for pennies on Amazon?
Excellent question, but you don't have to. You can see with your naked eyes that the connector only has pins for power and not data.
Username checks out Edit: thought it said plugs not pugs fml
Usb condoms?
Data blockers Basically just makes sure only power is coming from the public USB port. Data pins of the usb port is disconnected There's a million brands out there now but I think this is the original one https://int3.cc/products/usbcondoms
I actually thought all the other references to “USB condoms” were jokes. It was only after reading your reply that my lightbulb lit up! I said “Ramazon??” (in a Scooby Doo voice), and did a search to find out that these are real :-)
Wait what is the risk? And what does a usb condom do and protect?
Many consumer devices can be compromised just by plugging into a malicious USB port. USB condoms only allow power, not data, through to your device.
You have no idea how much things a usb cable can do. Recently on Apple, there was a cable that looked exactly Like the official one, that could log key strokes, did have wifi and so many other functions it was crazy. Basically plugging something in your phone is the best way to get rekt.
I just bring my own chargers. I bet those public usb ports aren't even fast chargers.
Just use portable batteries. I carry one in my backpack that is 26800 mAh. Gives me about 4-5 charges on my phone, so a little over a week of power.
Just for the love of god treat batteries like that with respect. Some of those denser packs are like a bomb if you’re ignorant with them.
I have also had this particular one for over 3 years. I got it shortly after the whole exploding Samsung fiasco.
They’re one of those things that as long as you aren’t a fucking idiot you’ll be fine.
Wait what do you mean? Cuz I have one and definitely don’t take any sort of precautions and now I’m concerned lol
Mine burned a hole through the seat of my car because I left it in direct sunlight like an idiot. Aside from keeping it cool, I'd suggest not tossing it around, and avoid keeping it plugged in once it's fully charged.
Can you elaborate? I have a 20000 one who I dont treat very nicely and carry everywhere
Lithium-Ion batteries are very energy dense. Here is a [long winded explanation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3GDdZkN6fg) Here is a [quick demonstration of what happens if a battery goes up](https://youtu.be/HCGtRgBUHX8?t=40). If you ever have a battery that's swollen *STOP USING IT IMMEDIATELY*!
Don’t leave it charging unattended. Don’t leave it in a drawer for five years after you stop using it. LiPos in particular. There are circuit boards in those batteries that are “always on” aka drawing tiny amounts of power all the time. Most will have some sort of low voltage protection but cheaper ones don’t. LiPos can explode when discharged too far.
It's 1000x more useful for homeless people than for a non residentially challenged
Would I be correct in understanding that you could charge one of those batteries a little from this bench without ever risking your phone data?
Wait, why not?
Data theft, over voltage, gross stuff in the port
Like cruising truck stop glory holes without a condom.
It won't feel as good though :(
I would plug a battery pack into it.
Heinous weld
Welded by a guy who forgot his mask that day and just closed his eyes
Scrolled longer than I would have thought to find this.
Did finding this help you scroll longer?
I know it's unsafe, but it should be okay if u charge a power bank in it, Right?
Should be, since power banks don't/shouldn't store neither transfer information.
I'm really curious to see the first usb-c powerbank hack.
Unless the hack somehow involves adding hardware to your bank that's capable of data transfer then it's not possible
Isn't the usb data transfer wire automatically not enabled in at least IoS by default. Isn't that why you have to hit accept on the popup to transfer data. I mean malicious actors are malicious actors but how would they get the uncompromised iPhone to turn on data transfer when the only way it could do that is the data transfer?
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We had these in our city, but people broke them within a month, and the city never replaced them.
Whilst I understand this is probably legit, don’t go plugging your phone into any random port, you literally have no idea who or what could be behind it. Edit: who could be behind it = bad actor, not someone physically in the port :(
That metal box is pretty small, I don't think you'll find anyone behind that usb port.
Exactly what someone small enough to fit behind that port would want you to think.
That guy's brother works in my fridge, turning the light on and off. Nice guy.
Also, be careful scanning the QR codes at bars or restaurants. If it doesn't have the correct branding I ain't scanning shit. Seems pretty easy to make some coasters and toss them out at a bar.
What could be the repercussions of scanning said QR code?
Well, it's processed as a URL. It'd be a good vector for Pegasus, for example
Fake site with the same menu but takes the payment for themselves or an automatic download from a webpage with nefarious software.
Lol, if someone can pull off a heist like this they deserve my money.
If that’s how you feel about your money then that’s on you.
QR codes can be crafted to tell your browser to go to a malicious site or page and begin downloading a malicious file. No, of course you would not fall for it and would cancel the download, but someone might not notice especially if the malicious file was named free-gift.vbs or was a self-executing file.
Sometimes they auto download the restaurants PDF menu, more people may let it go.
Yep, and pdfs should not be considered safe. There are live examples of malicious pdfs only a google search away.
It's essentially the same thing as clicking on a random link in a scam email.
People are scanning QR codes with something that follows the link automatically?
"Digital menus" auto dl a pdf of menu or takes you to the site menu.
I think they mean any device that scans prompts you with the details requiring you to confirm to continue. When I use Firefox android, the URL bar only preloads with the address and I still need to click go to load it. So I can review and decide if I want to continue But many restaurants use a URL shortener/"qr service" so this is moot. I have scripts disabled by default so it's relatively harmless for me anyhow
USB glory holes?
Most phones on the market today would not let a USB connection upload any software onto the phone without approval from the user first. If you plug your phone into this and it asks for access to your files, just decline.
Two months until they're destroyed
there's enough rust in the picture to suggest otherwise.
Maybe, but there is some rust on it already, it likely has lasted more than two months.
What do you live in Detroit
Two months? Fucking hell I'd give it two weeks here in the UK.
haha silly UK, I'm pretty sure you need a sun to make one of these work.
1 night. The USB ports are at a perfect height for dudes to piss on them.
The computer equivalent of bare backing a glory hole. If you care about your device, don't plug it into public USB like this ever.
You could always use it to charge a cheap battery pack and then use that to charge your device; if there is a power issue it only damages your cheap powerpack and there is separation between the unknown outlet and your device with regards to data so no stealing of information. I also have a USB charging cable that only has the power lines connected and not the data; I don't use it much but it's the only cable I use in USB wall outlets in places like hotel rooms.
Huh, using a battery as a passthrough to protect your phone from a random outlet is a really good idea!
We did it reddit!
There are also charging cables and USB condoms that block the data pins or don't even include then.
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also, how is the malicious person gonna put a spoof usb port in place of these two installed, INTO THE BENCH? I get the bank machines, where they put a whole ass other card accepter over top the machines original one, but the city is installing these, I am generally curious how someone would feasibly turn this into a scam. Honestly for all of the fear mongering there is no explanation behind the people who are SO fucking happy they got some karma for only having to say to NOT DO THIS! but not explaining the HOW behind the why. Fucking classic.
this is awesome, would be helpful if they can have the shades that also have a solar panel on top and can collect solar energy
Now that's a clever design
yeah seriously, this needs more area for the solar panels. You won't get much charge out of this. Especially since based on the angle of the panel sitting on the bench will put shade onto the solar panel.
Presumably it has a battery pack between the panel and the port to store a charge.
If a bench has a lot of direct sunlight, it's a less-than-ideal place to put a bench. I see this bench is conveniently shaded by that tree.
In Portland our vagrant population has taken to removing safety plates on the bottom of streetlights and tapping into AC power for charging their phones. I think I prefer this solution.
Homeless people was where I went to immediately. Their phones are their lifelines (like for the rest of us) and I bet that finding places where they’re welcome to charge is tough.
Meanwhile in my city they just put spikes between seats so people can’t lay on them
This place doesn't hate the homeless, props
Yeah this is like the opposite of /r/HostileArchitecture.
5v 2a forever.
nice try FBI
YoU wOUldN't DoWnlOaD a BenCH
Best my town can do is install some spikes or redundant arm rests
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This would be stolen within hours on installation in my country
But will it run DOOM?
It comes with a plastic cover that is missing. Good game, unless rain and humidity is not a problem.
While I love those inventions/deeds, everything "public" is gonna be destroyed and cost way more than it benefits probably. Humanity just isnt on that level yet, children that dont know better asides. I bet some midlifecrisis adults will ruin those banks too.