Spyware on USB Flash Drives

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Just curious, I have wondered is there a way to be sure a newly purchased flash drives are free of any kind of spyware other than to format it with Drive Utility.
 

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Thank you for your post.

I have to say that many of us, upon purchasing a brand new USB Flash Drive, would automatically reformat it - if only to be sure that it suited our requirements (OS X Extended (Journaled); FAT; exFAT etc) and not NTFS, which is Windows only.

So, in that respect, why would you not be prepared to reformat the USB Drive anyway?

And nothing to do with your question, so apologies, but I notice that 3 those Macs you have, as shown in your specs, which can run macOS High Sierra are still on 10.13.3. The latest version is 10.13.6.

Ian
 

chscag

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Usually flash drives are formatted as FAT-32 at the factory unless they are of the newer larger type then it's likely the would be formatted as NTFS. As Ian stated if you're worried about spyware, just reformat the flash drive using disk utility.
 
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Spyware on USB Flash Drives

I dare say that if any company was installing any sort of "spyware" on their new flash drives, word would spread pretty fast and probably kill off the company in no time at all. As would many stores selling such an item, so pretty rare if at all I'd say.

PS: Some may contain some special software to use for security etc., and/or to register the product, but that isn't and doesn't act like spyware for sure.






- Patrick
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Hey, Thanks fellows for the information. Yes I always do format new drives with Disk Utility Just wondered if that was sufficient to remove a hidden spyware program of the stuxnet or rootkit type. No, I'm not paranoid about it because I probably wouldn't be a target in the first place. And could never stop it if I was. Just thought infected flash drive or any other kind of drive would be a slick way to get sneaky stuff into otherwise secure operations. After look where they all are made. Just wondered what you guys would have to say about. You know, idle curiosity.
Yes i see my profile needs an update. Only two are using High Sierra now, Sierra or El Cap on the others. Even a Mini 1.1 running 10.6 Hey those programs on it still work as good as ever when I need them. I just don't use it on the internet.
I have always respected your knowledge. I thank you again for sharing as freely as you do.
Paul
 
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"Secure" operations are always only as secure as the end users. Some highly secure facilities remove all externally attachable points, or disable them from operations if they cannot be physically removed. If there is a USB port active, some idiot, or nefarious character, will eventually want to attach something to it, which is how "secure" operations become non-so-secure.
 
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Just thought infected flash drive or any other kind of drive would be a slick way to get sneaky stuff into otherwise secure operations. After look where they all are made. Just wondered what you guys would have to say about. You know, idle curiosity.


Actually, year ago when floppys were popular and used, especially at some universities and colleges, they were often the source of nasty sneaky stuff and sometime spread and contaminated computers widely. So your thinking isn't really that far off as to what could happen, but just NOT with fresh legit factory storage devices. Well, one may not want to include cheap units from Russia or China etc. among them. :Smirk:





- Patrick
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