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Reports of introducing spyware by a new USB thumb drive.

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Heat Sink

Heat Sink

PCHF Member
Jun 22, 2017
132
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Perth
#1
I have lately seen reports as news items telling us to be aware of what USB memory sticks we buy to install into our USB ports.
I mean, how can anyone tell a clean one from a spy one? Do we just plug it in and hope for the best?
They are saying that you can inadvertently introduce spyware into your computer that can remotely download not only your banking details but the passwords to open them.
I'm only small fry, but in the light of the latest announcements about the massive loss of information from the defense industries, one would have to wonder if this is partly what happened to them?
Would someone like to comment about this ?
 
#2
I always buy good brand Flash Drives, and format them before I use them.
I was warned about a year ago, free Malware laden Flash Drives were being delivered in my area, and put in our mail boxes.
Warned, not to hook them up to a computer.
 
#4
Just about everything is made in China. Doesn't mean everything is bad.
I like Sandisk Ultra USB3 (any size)
I only had a cheapie Flash Drive destroy itself during the night. Lucky I always keep more than one backup.
Had 13.8 GIG's of Data on it. Went out a while ago and bought 3X32 GIG Flash Drives.
Now going to transfer Data off a lot of older Flash Drives onto these 3 new one's.
I have 2 other Sandisk Flash Drives as well.

Formatting is wiping everything off the Flash Drive. Quick format takes no time at all.
Always FAT 32
If you are using a Flash Drive to Boot off, You may be advised to format the Flash Drive to NTFS.
By formatting new Flash Drives, I can be sure they don't come with a Payload.
 
#6
In the world of espionage today, virtually anything is possible. What is being envisaged is that it is highly likely that the spy program included in a marketed flash drive is not part of the actual memory area but separate and therefore no formatting will clean it out.
As I said earlier, it seems an insidious way that the spy can be introduced into the defense department computers to gain information about the new F-35, but the fact is they have done it. It seems quite feasible that the defense department missed this simple method of spy installation whilst watching the bigger picture.
 
#10
Heat Sink said:
But would it work satisfactorily if a foreign power knew you were part of the aerospace industry who had successfully tendered on a portion of the F-35 program?
Click to expand...

In that case just spread Vegemite over the drive as well as using McShield, guaranteed to keep foreign powers out.

Don't forget to check for reds under the bed too.......

Lots of drives come with installed bundled garbage as well, as Dougie said "Format" equals all good.
 
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#11
Hey, someone just smiled and gave me a Vegemite sandwich.

Vegemite.jpg
 
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