【Eng Sub】
While the world's eyes watch Donald Trump and Eng SubKim Jong-Un meet in Singapore, journalists have seemingly been treated rather well while covering the event.
But caution has been advised over one tiny freebie.
Not only have the 3,000 journalists been well-fed during the summit, they've also received a goody bag. Inside the bag there's a bottle of water, a handheld fan featuring Jong-Un's face, and a Sentosa guidebook. Pretty standard.
SEE ALSO: 6 VPNs that can help you break through China's 'Great Firewall'However, also enclosed was a blue, innocent-looking mini USB fan, a nod to Singapore's searing temperatures. Not so hot about it was the information security community.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
"Do not plug this in. Do not keep it," tweeted journalist Barton Gellman, who led coverage on the U.S. National Security Agency after receiving top secret documents from Edward Snowden.
The risk is the device could be a covert method of installing malware onto the computers of journalists covering the summit.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
Twitter was abound with messages imploring journalists to not use the fan.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
"It certainly can be a security risk," Matthew Warren, professor of cyber security at Australia's Deakin University, explained to Mashable.
"The idea of the USB is a way of connecting devices to computers, and either exchanging data or drawing power for operations. The problem is, there's been a number of examples where USB devices can be hijacked and malicious code can be put on them."
"There's been a number of examples where USB devices can be hijacked and malicious code can be put on them."
Security researchers Karsten Nohl and Jakob Lell demonstrated malware they had developed, called BadUSB, at the Black Hat Conference back in 2014.
The malware is installed in the firmware of the USB drive, and not in its flash memory storage, which makes it undetectable. It also means other USB peripherals, like fans, can also be used to covertly carry attack code.
Once plugged in, the malware can "completely take over a PC, invisibly alter files installed from the memory stick, or even redirect the user's internet traffic," WIREDnoted at the time.
"Security hasn't been built in to these USB devices," Warren added. "I certainly wouldn't be putting [the fan] in my machine."
Of course, it could be very well and true that the USB fan isjust a USB fan. We'll just have to see about that.
Featured Video For You
Future of the internet could depend on submarine datacenters
Topics Cybersecurity Donald Trump
Search
Categories
Latest Posts
Panthers vs. Sharks 2025 livestream: Watch NRL for free
2025-06-26 19:28NASA's JWST Twitter account burns other NASA Twitter accounts
2025-06-26 18:46Netflix is ending support for older Apple TV models
2025-06-26 18:06Trump's DEI keyword crusade hits the country's defense archives
2025-06-26 17:33Featured Posts
Nintendo Switch 2 release date, price announced
2025-06-26 18:51Why new James Webb Space Telescope pictures don't exist
2025-06-26 18:34Apple Vision Pro to launch in China on June 28 · TechNode
2025-06-26 18:23Popular Articles
Dell S3422DWG Gaming Monitor deal: save $100 at Amazon
2025-06-26 19:26England vs. Iceland 2024 livestream: Watch live football for free
2025-06-26 18:58Study trains Port Jackson sharks to respond to jazz music
2025-06-26 17:45Newsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates.
Comments (82644)
Interesting Information Network
Get the official Atari 7800+ Console for 50% off
2025-06-26 19:27Exploration Information Network
On the space station, NASA will help make the next skin wrinkle cream
2025-06-26 19:11Ignition Information Network
Saudi fund bets big on China’s Zhipu AI · TechNode
2025-06-26 18:34Exquisite Information Network
'The Watchers' review: Dakota Fanning embraces folk horror with a Shyamalan twist
2025-06-26 18:17Unobstructed Information Network
Best keyboard deals: Save on Asus gaming keyboards at Amazon
2025-06-26 17:31