Of filtering the code into the targeted network. Latter, where someone uploads malicious code onto the drive with the intention How Do USB Devices Get Infected with Malware? Virus through any network it’s attached to. Plugged into an unprotected device could instantly infect it and spread the That aren’t running antivirus software, not set up to scan USB drives, or not The fact remains that there will always be a considerable percentage of devices

No matter the various safeguards available,

Into computer systems that are unprotected, so they’re making it easy for Understood, USB malware attacks are still occurring. Themselves and the danger of contracting a malware infection is widely Malicious nature from USB drives have been around almost as long as the drives When it comes to information security for both consumers and businesses. USB drives continue to pose a big challenge This can refer to breaches that result from viruses that are present on the user’s computer or are introduced by infected removable media. In 2017, a Kaspersky Lab data study revealed that every year around one in four USB users across the globe are affected by a ‘local’ cyber incident. Millions of USB devices are still designed, produced and sold each year with many used at home and at work (they’re also still a very popular item during promotional giveaways). Natanz nuclear facility, the target of the Stuxnet USB malware attack.Ĭyber threat actors have routinely abused this capability with the most famous example being the ‘world’s first digital weapon,’ the Stuxnet worm first discovered back in 2010, which used USB devices to attack the network of an Iranian nuclear facility.Īlthough USBs are still frequently used, cloud services of today, such as Dropbox and Google Drive, have taken on much of the responsibility when it comes to file storage and transfer, and there is a greater understanding of the security risk that can be posed by USB devices.

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