New Cyber Threats and Fraud
Jan 12, 2022, 16:52 PM
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation is warning that hackers are sending malicious USB thumb drives via mail to companies hoping that recipients will use them and have their networks infected.
While the majority of the targets so far have been companies in the transportation, insurance, and defense industries, there is no doubt that other industries and individual consumers will be their next targets.
New Cyber Threats and Fraud
The hackers have pretended that the devices contain Best Buy or Amazon gift cards, or have said the drives contained new Covid guidelines from the Department of Health and Human Services.
It is recommended that no one ever use a USB thumb drive, as the risk of spreading viruses between computers is just too high. However, it is of the utmost severe importance that in a situation where one of these drives are found or delivered it never gets plugged in.
The mere act of plugging it in to “see what’s on it” is enough to have your computer and possibly your entire network compromised and taken over by hackers.
If someone receives a USB drive delivered through USPS, you can fill out a mail fraud complaint or contact the FBI to report it. Most Target stores have recycling bins at the front of their stores for small electronics such as these to dispose of properly.
Actual pictures of these devices that were mailed.
