Comments for I found a USB thumbdrive, plugged it in and now my system won't work. What happened?

Comment from kuhan on 2008-10-19

2008-10-20T01:32:34Z

Sir actually i m doing one software. It must be run the program from thumb drive .
so i dontknw the autorun file.inf

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A comment on: I found a USB thumbdrive, plugged it in and now my system won't work. What happened?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Kim on 2008-09-30

2008-09-30T18:49:25Z

Some public libraries check out thumbdrives to their patrons. Apparently they don't always check to make sure the drive has been wiped clean by the previous user.
In my case the leftover files were benign to me, but the previous user probably wouldn't be too happy to know his resume and rehab history were left on it for anyone to see!

Moral: make sure the flash drive has been wiped clean before you use it OR return it.

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A comment on: I found a USB thumbdrive, plugged it in and now my system won't work. What happened?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Scott Wright on 2008-09-21

2008-09-22T03:34:16Z

Great article, Leo. There are some good questions and responses here. I just wanted to add my two cents worth.

It turns out that many people (about 40%) will put an unknown device into their computer, just to see what's on it. I have the evidence, which I have summarized at my site, The Honey Stick Project, at http://www.honeystickproject.com. The site was inspired by the penetration test you mentioned above, and is intended to raise awareness about the risks of using mobile devices, in general.

The technique I use in the project can be useful for measuring the level of security awareness and safe computing habits in an organization. Please drop by and give me your comments.

One other note: As indicated in one of the related article links above, it is possible for a device to be configured to trick a system into bypassing autorun, depending on your system. I have some notes about this on my site, also.

Fascinating site, Scott. Thanks!

- Leo
22-Sep-2008

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A comment on: I found a USB thumbdrive, plugged it in and now my system won't work. What happened?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from tareq on 2008-07-13

2008-07-13T19:04:05Z

what is the future of pen drive

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A comment on: I found a USB thumbdrive, plugged it in and now my system won't work. What happened?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Ken B on 2008-03-17

2008-03-17T17:09:21Z

To "Leo fan":

Of course malware can be launched from CDs and DVDs, if there is malware on the media.

Use your favorite search engine and look up "sony rootkit" for a rather infamous example.

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A comment on: I found a USB thumbdrive, plugged it in and now my system won't work. What happened?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Chris Buechler on 2008-03-15

2008-03-15T18:26:39Z

Thankfully Vista won't autorun anything without first prompting.

more info: http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/3732

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A comment on: I found a USB thumbdrive, plugged it in and now my system won't work. What happened?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from Carl R. Goodwin on 2008-03-14

2008-03-15T03:34:12Z

Why would ANYBODY put a USB thumbdrive anywhere NEAR their computer if they didn't know what was on it??? The scabs that write all these viruses LIVE for people like that!

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A comment on: I found a USB thumbdrive, plugged it in and now my system won't work. What happened?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from 'Leo fan' on 2008-03-14

2008-03-15T03:03:38Z

Hi Leo,

Unfortunately this question didn't come early enough to put me on guard. What you're describing happened to me couple of weeks ago and gave me a Trojan Backdoor.win32.Rbot. Later I found the autorun file on my USB/Mp3. I'll try to disable autorun as you mentioned.

But CD-ROMS and DVDs are safe, aren't they? Malware can't launch from them... or am I mistaken?

Thanks

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A comment on: I found a USB thumbdrive, plugged it in and now my system won't work. What happened?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Dan Warrener on 2008-03-14

2008-03-15T01:33:08Z

Hey Leo,

That autorun article is great. But could you make one on how to disable autorun in Windows Vista for the Vista users.

Thanks Leo and keep up the great work.

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A comment on: I found a USB thumbdrive, plugged it in and now my system won't work. What happened?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.