---
name: "buskill"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "buskill"
version: "0.7.0-2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/buskill"
---

# buskill(1)

Lock or shutdown if your device is stolen (for use with laptop kill cord)

## NAME

buskill - Lock or shutdown if your device is stolen (for use with laptop kill cord)

## SYNOPSIS

buskill \[options\]

## DESCRIPTION

buskill is a cross-platform CLI and GUI app that can lock or shutdown your computer when a USB hotplug removal event occurs.

It's designed to work with the BusKill laptop kill cord, which is a hardware dead man switch that tethers a user to their computer via a USB cable with an integrated magnetic breakaway. If the cable is disconnected (eg by a snatch-and-run thief stealing the user's machine), then this software can trigger the computer to lock or shutdown -- thus protecting encrypted files (eg bitcoin private keys) or current login sessions (eg online banking) from theft.

## OPTIONS

**-h**, **--help** : Show this help message and exit.

**--version** : Print version and exit.

**--list-triggers** : List all available triggers.

**-v**, **--verbose** : Increase output verbosity.

**-t** , **--trigger** : Choose trigger to execute. See --list-triggers for all possible values.

**-T**, **--run-trigger** : Immediately execute the trigger on start.

**-a**, **--arm** : Arms BusKill.

## EXAMPLES

**buskill --list-triggers** : Display all possible triggers, then exits.

**buskill --trigger lock-screen --arm** : Arm the buskill app with the 'lock-screen' trigger so that a USB hotplug removal event will lock the device's screen

**buskill --trigger soft-shutdown --arm** : Arm the buskill app with the 'soft-shutdown' trigger so that a USB hotplug removal event will cause the device to shutdown

## SEE ALSO

This manpage is limited in scope. The BusKill project's main documentation (complete with images and videos) is available at docs.buskill.in (https://docs.buskill.in)

- •

  Full Documentation (https://docs.buskill.in)

- •

  Official BusKill Project Website (https://buskill.in)

## AUTHORS

Michael Altfield (\<michael@michaelaltfield.net\>) and The BusKill Team (\<https://buskill.in/contact\>).