Hi. Craig Peterson here with a blink into USB thumb drives.
Some of the characteristics of those thumb drives we all use create real security problems:
- They’re easy to lose, and often contain private information.
- If you have encrypted your USB flash device, then you should not be overly concerned when you lose it if your data is backed up.
- On the opposite side is the security risk of finding a USB drive. Don’t think “Free stuff!” Hackers and Nation-States have seeded USB flash drives in coffee shops to fool people into loading malware and spyware without their knowledge.
What to do?
- Don’t allow anyone to plug an unknown USB drive into your computer, and don’t plug your device into an unknown USB power port.
- Take advantage of the security features of your USB drives. Use passwords and encryption to protect your data
- USB drives are a type of storage. Make sure you back them up in case they;re lost
- Keep personal and business USB drives separate. Do not plug USB drives containing corporate information into your personal computer.
- As always, use and update your security software, and keep all software up to date. Use a firewall, antivirus software, and anti-spyware software to make your computer less vulnerable to attacks, and keep the virus definitions current.
- Make sure your Malware Protection software double-checks any USB drives before you use them.