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Bitcoinist_Urbana-Champaign

University Students Risk Ransomware Infection Through USB Drives

Jp Buntinx
by Jp Buntinx
5 months ago
·
Posted in Breaking News, News, News teaser, Technology
Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

A recent security experiment conducted at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign goes to show how insecure freely distributed USB drives can be. Almost one in two drives were taken and plugged into a computer right away, regardless of possible consequences.

Also read: Syscoin 2.0 Launches DirectBTC on Decentralized Marketplace

Please Refrain From Using Unknown USB Drives

Bitcoinist_Urbana-Champaign Ransomware USB Drives

There is something very appealing about goodies, especially if they come in the form of an item everybody can use. USB Drives present an excellent example of how dangerous these goodies can be, though, as users will plug them into their computer without giving it a second thought.

That became abundantly clear during the experiment at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus, as 48% of all USB drives were inserted into a computer without using a more secure environment first. In most cases, these drives were inserted within minutes after being picked up from the campus premises.

Albeit there was nothing wrong with the USB drives themselves, an assailant could use similar methods to distributed a virus or Bitcoin ransomware across hundreds of potential victims. It is very unsafe to pick up an untrusted USB drive, and the researchers compared it to “picking up discarded food off a sidewalk and eating it”.

Using such devices opens up all kinds of potential risks for the users, even if the drives are given away through honest intentions. Promotional actions usually involve some free USB drives being handed out, yet none of them can be trusted by default.Any of these devices may contain tools for hackers to take control of the host computer, which could have even more severe consequences.

At the same time, it is also important to note 16% of all users properly checked the USB drives before using them. This paints a worrisome picture as to how only a handful of people seem to be concerned about computer security these days. Given the number of malware and Bitcoin ransomware threats in existence today, people should be far more careful when dealing with unknown devices.

What are your thoughts on this experiment? Would you plug unknown USB drives into your computer without conducting proper scans? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: Finextra

Images courtesy of Shutterstock, Startclass

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.
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Jp Buntinx

Jp Buntinx

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JP Buntinx is a freelance Bitcoin writer and Bitcoin journalist for various digital currency news outlets around the world. In other notes, Jean-Pierre is an active member of the Belgian Bitcoin Association, and occasionally attends various Bitcoin Meetups in Ghent and Brussels

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