Friends,
We’re happy to announce that we have funding available to package BusKill in QubesOS as a contrib package.
Thanks to a generous donation from NovaCustom, we’re offering a bounty to anyone (including you!) who packages BusKill as an official contrib package for QubesOS.
About BusKill
BusKill is a laptop kill-cord. It’s a USB cable with a magnetic breakaway that you attach to your body and connect to your computer.
Check out this BusKill Explainer Video for more info:
If the connection between you to your computer is severed, then your device will lock, shutdown, or shred its encryption keys, thus keeping your encrypted data safe from thieves that steal your device.
About NovaCustom
In Mar 2015, Wessel klein Snakenborg (founder of NovaCustom) started selling highly-customizable Linux laptops from Europe. In Aug 2021, NovaCustom released their first laptop (NV40) with coreboot pre-installed with Dasharo.
Since 2023, NovaCustom has been a leader in hardware security:
- In Apr 2023, NovaCustom started offering Intel ME disabling.
- In May 2023, NovaCustom demonstrated their commitment to free software and the security community by obtaining Qubes certification on their NV41 Series laptop.
- In Sep 2023, NovaCustom started offering anti-interdiction services, which includes applying a unique glitter pattern to your new laptop's chassis screws before shipment. This was inspired by Michael Altfield's article about Trusted Boot.
- In Feb 2024, NovaCustom started selling their NV41 laptop with Heads pre-installed.
- In Sep 2024, NovaCustom's V56 laptop became Qubes Certified.
- In Nov 2024, NovaCustom partnered with BusKill to bundle their security laptops with BusKill Kits, including the option to purchase BusKill Kits in-person (with cash) at their brick-and-mortar office in The Netherlands.
- In Feb 2025, NovaCustom's V54 laptop became Qubes Certified.
- In Mar 2026, NovaCustom donated $200 to BusKill for packaging and documenting BusKill in
apt, making it easier (and safer) to install BusKill on Debian-based Linux distros.
And now, in Apr 2026, NovaCustom is further working to increase the accessibility of BusKill to QubesOS users, by sponsoring the submission of an official QubesOS contrib package.
Funding Available
If you’d like to claim this bounty for yourself, please:
- Read the details of the bounty
- Submit a proposal by commenting on this GitHub issue
Moreover, if you’re a QubesOS user, you’re invited to donate additional funds in support of this bounty.
Stay safe,
The BusKill Team