Guy puts spikes and taser on Steam Deck to stop family

We all have those precious devices—the gadgets that hold our digital lives and often drain our batteries faster than we can charge them. For many, the greatest threat isn’t a hacker or a physical thief, but simply family members who seem intent on draining your power without asking. When faced with this common household annoyance, some Redditors have turned to extreme measures to ensure their electronics remain sacrosanct.

One such enthusiast recently shared an elaborate and highly unconventional solution for securing their personal Steam Deck. Fed up with the constant battery drain, the user decided that simple passwords were not enough; they needed a more physical deterrent. The resulting security system is less about sophisticated cybersecurity and more about high-stakes, goofy engineering.

The initial step in this defense mechanism involved 3D printing a spiky case designed to snap onto the side of the Steam Deck. This hardware was intended to make the device physically difficult to hold or access, adding a layer of physical impedance to any potential battery thieves.

However, the security system quickly evolved beyond mere physical barriers. To add an element of active deterrence, the user integrated smart technology. They rigged up a Raspberry Pi connected to an object detection camera, which was programmed with a Python script to trigger an action upon detecting unauthorized proximity. This mechanism was designed to activate a taser fitted to the top of the device after a short delay.

While perhaps not designed for actual physical contact—the setup ensures the taser remains safely out of reach—the intent is clear: to create a scare tactic against anyone attempting to steal or tamper with the expensive hardware. The exact audio used for the activation remains unspecified, adding an element of unpredictable comedy to the system.

Skeptics might wonder why such an over-the-top solution was pursued when simple password protection exists. But the motivation behind this stunt seems rooted in a broader sense of device protection, especially given the recent dramatic price increases for high-end gaming hardware. The experiment ultimately transformed a mundane frustration into a memorable—and undeniably effective—defense mechanism.

Ultimately, this endeavor proves that sometimes the most creative solutions to everyday annoyances are born out of sheer necessity and a healthy dose of absurdity. While some may call it hostile architecture for gadgets, the result is undeniable: no one touches the device anymore. It stands as a testament to the fact that sometimes, even the dumbest ideas can work.