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USB Devices Aiding Malware Attacks

The devices are small but USB drives can cause some very big headaches for IT security. Larry Barrett reports. USB devices are handy, powerful and convenient. They’re also a major headache for IT security administrators because they’re almost impossible to police and they can spread malware like wildfire. Security software developer AVAST Software did some […]

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Larry Barrett

Nov 10, 2010

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The devices are small but USB drives can cause some very big headaches for IT security. Larry Barrett reports.

USB devices are handy, powerful and convenient. They’re also a major headache for IT security administrators because they’re almost impossible to police and they can spread malware like wildfire.

Security software developer AVAST Software did some monitoring and research and came to the conclusion that roughly one in eight of the 700,000-plus malware incidents it identified this year were the direct result of tainted USB devices.

Researchers said the prime vulnerability is found in the “AutoRun” feature in the Microsoft Windows operating system. AutoRun alerts computer users when a new device, such as a memory stick is connected and is designed to help them choose which application should run with the new files.

Read the rest at eSecurity Planet.

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Larry Barrett

Larry Barrett is a freelance journalist and blogger who has covered the information technology and business sectors for more than 15 years. Most recently, he served as the online news editor for 1105 Media's Office Technology Group and as the online managing editor for SourceMedia's Investment Advisory Group publications Financial Planning, On Wall Street, and Bank Investment Consultant. He was also a senior writer and editor at Ziff Davis Media's Baseline Magazine, winner of the Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award, and ZDNet. In addition, he's served as a senior writer and editor at prominent technology and business websites including CNET, InternetNews.com, Multichannel News, and the San Jose Business Journal.

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