Everyone knows how common USB flash drives are
today. In fact, most people who use USB flash drives don’t really think about them as
anything more than a storage device, but they are completely capable of being
programmed to wreak havoc.
This particular activity would allow a hacker to plant virtually any instructions they wanted on the device itself that would automatically run when it gets plugged in.
With the increase in technology, the use of the USB devices will continue to grow. It is Independent’s desire to raise awareness among employees by providing some helpful tips for reducing your chances of becoming a victim:
» Avoid plugging any USB drive into your computer that you do not personally own, OR know it’s safe. This means friends, associates or anyone else who might want to transfer files to your computer via USB drive should be encouraged to use Google Drive, Dropbox or other cloud-based file-sharing services.
» Do not use any USB flash drive that looks as if it was lost by someone else. If you think like a hacker for a minute, the easiest way to start infecting people is to drop or leave infected USB drives in various locations. Most people will think that they have found a free storage device and have no way of knowing that it’s infected.
This particular activity would allow a hacker to plant virtually any instructions they wanted on the device itself that would automatically run when it gets plugged in.
With the increase in technology, the use of the USB devices will continue to grow. It is Independent’s desire to raise awareness among employees by providing some helpful tips for reducing your chances of becoming a victim:
» Avoid plugging any USB drive into your computer that you do not personally own, OR know it’s safe. This means friends, associates or anyone else who might want to transfer files to your computer via USB drive should be encouraged to use Google Drive, Dropbox or other cloud-based file-sharing services.
» Do not use any USB flash drive that looks as if it was lost by someone else. If you think like a hacker for a minute, the easiest way to start infecting people is to drop or leave infected USB drives in various locations. Most people will think that they have found a free storage device and have no way of knowing that it’s infected.
This
is a fluctuating situation, so stay tuned for more information as it becomes
available.
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