Yes, we are THAT stupid: Spyware Geeks Freak After Singapore Reporters Get Free USB Fans

[hlthe2b]

Spyware Geeks Freak After Singapore Reporters Get Free USB Fans
Techies say don’t blow it: Any ‘Trojan horse’ gadgets loaded with malware could access data from the hundreds of journalists at the summit.

we have NO cybersecurity interventions, it seems... Given Trump uses an unsecured phone, I guess we can't be surprised our intelligence agencies are caught so flat-footed

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/spyware-geeks-freak-singapore-journalists-usb-fans_us_5b1f0a72e4b0bbb7a0e0793e

The Twitterverse exploded in a spyware panic after a Dutch journalist in Singapore posted a photo of a press kit freebie of a tiny fan that connects to computers via the USB portal. It was part of a goodie bag for the journalists covering U.S. President Donald Trump’s meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Techies flooded Twitter with warnings not to plug the fans into computers because to do so would risk a serious spyware or malware incursion.

USB keys have been used in a number of successful computer infiltrations. In 2008, the Russians planted bugged thumb drives in kiosks near NATO headquarters in Kabul, hoping that American military personnel would buy a drive and plug it into a secure computer, which they reportedly did. The Telegraph reported that the Kremlin spied on delegates to the Group of 20 meeting in 2013 by passing out USB pen drives capable of downloading information from laptops.

more at link above...

[dembotoz]

1. was at a tech fair couple years back. company handed out a whole bunch of little usb sticks

then did a workshop about how while the sticks were harmless-they held a commercial, they could have been malware.
They went on about how statistically the bad guys could count on a percentage of usb sticks used and how only a couple were needed for the expenses of the gambit would be coupled.

eye opening

free stuff is less fun now

[hlthe2b]

2. Yes... I agree. People just don't THINK and it is a far wider risk than to their own computers

[TheBlackAdder]

8. Even if you buy new USB jump drives at major US retailers, they can be infected with malware.

[IronLionZion]

3. Other tech fairs give covers for a laptop's web cam

and a reminder to disable the microphone. Because spyware can use those things without your knowledge.

It's very easy for malicious enemies to hear and see everything these days.

[NightWatcher]

4. Also, don't trust random usb "charging" ports you may see in public

Those can hack your phones just as easily.

Carry extra battery packs instead.

[hlthe2b]

5. Good point....

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

6. Smart as the stable genius I guess

[usaf-vet]

7. What this country needs is a cyber wall surrounding all incoming internet traffic.

Individuals do not have the capacity to out smart cyber hackers. We need the government to take responsibility for protecting our internet connected devices and the traffic that passes through them.

When we see reports (after the fact) of foreign adversaries attacking our voting systems, our power grids, our military hardware and software, our private personal data, US companies trade secrets and now hijacking a private individuals router to be use as a gateway to further attack other internet users. We should all see this a cyber warfare.

We don't need concrete and steel walls to prevent people fleeing from oppressive terrorist attacks in their home countries from seeking asylum in America.

WE NEED cybersecurity to protect US interests and US citizens from illegal activities from foreign and domestic enemies.

[neeksgeek]

9. If you liked that, you're gonna love this...

USB Killer, yours for $50, lets you easily fry almost every device (Ars Technica)