USB Flash Drive from China

Norton Security | Norton Internet Security
1

I do business with the People's Republic of China. The PRC government agency I work with is requiring me to log in to their web site from a USB flash drive that they've provided me with.

 

I'd like to use NIS TO scan the contents of this flash drive but I'm concerned that even plugging the drive in to my computer will put me at risk. Is there a way to plug in the drive and scan it without risking a virus infection? Thanks.

2
gegan wrote:

I do business with the People's Republic of China. The PRC government agency I work with is requiring me to log in to their web site from a USB flash drive that they've provided me with.

 

I'd like to use NIS TO scan the contents of this flash drive but I'm concerned that even plugging the drive in to my computer will put me at risk. Is there a way to plug in the drive and scan it without risking a virus infection? Thanks.

Welcome.

With your system booted but not connected to the Internet Norton will be active and protecting you. Plug in the flash drive and let Norton scan it. If you feel the need you could also scan it with something like Malwarebytes free scanner

http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free

it's Norton compatible so keep it on the desktop for when you feel the need for a second opinion scan. If you go that route be sure to download, install and update Malwarebytes before you discomment from the Internet and plug in the flash drive.

Keep us posted

3

Sounds fishy to me. I would never plug it into my system without first checking it thoroughly.

 

Take it to an internet cafe and see if you can use that system to scan the drive with an online scanner.

Or use linux to copy the contents onto a folder on the hard drive so it will not be able to autorun anything because it is not a removable drive.  Then scan that folder.

 

Call me paranoid but I personally would not trust certain governments.

Dave

 

4

You might want to read this first:....

 

Chinese hackers use India’s own thumb drives against them 

 

 

5
DaveH wrote:

Call me paranoid but I personally would not trust certain governments.

A thunbdrive was implicated in the recent theft of Indian Navy secrets that were sent to China.  So, I would not call you paranoid.  I would be curious to know what restrictions gegan's own government might impose on using Chinese-government supplied thumbdrives for the transaction of certain business with China.  The problem with thumbdrives is not just that gegan's PC might become infected with spyware, but that such an infection would spread. 

 

http://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/view/26761/

 

 

6

In brief, don't do it.  I work for a federal agency (one of those agencies).  Just trust me on this.  Are you in the United States?

 

Regards,

Kelly 

7

Thanks, I've got some ideas now on precautionary measures. Yes, I'm in the USA.

8

gegan,

 

I sent you a private message with a couple of suggestions to consider.

 

Just sign on to the forum, and click on the envelope in the upper right corner.

 

Regards,

Kelly