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rslade
Influencer II

Woman invades Mar-a-Lago with "malicious" software

A woman got into Mar-a-Lago despite not being on the access list, with no clear reason for being there, and carrying two different passports.

 

She was then investigated and arrested.  She was found to be carrying a thumb drive which contained "malicious malware" according to the Secret Service.  (In my career researching malware, I don't know how often I encountered benign malware ...)

 

Everyone seems to be horrified by this event.  My reaction is a little bit different ...

 

In my career researching malware, all of my computers (except for one that recently had it's drive blown off and replaced) have zoos of malware on them.  Crossing the US border, frequently, I did wonder what I should say when/if I ever got asked to submit my computer to a search.  I know that "no" is not an option.  "OK" might work.  But I always wondered about "OK, but you should know that the machine you want to examine has malware on it, and anything you catch in examining it is your own fault ..."


............

Other posts: https://community.isc2.org/t5/forums/recentpostspage/user-id/1324864413

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2 Replies
Caute_cautim
Community Champion

It appears to be a case, of if I push hard enough, with sufficient confidence, I will find an excuse which a human being will accept.   She was very persistent indeed.   But it also shows a number of bumbling errors too.

 

Her stories did not stack up?   Why was she carrying a thumb drive?  What was her intent?  Who set her up?   Was it a test?  Did she really have the audacity to carry out it, before she was intercepted at the Reception Desk?

 

If she, knew her Thumb Drive was riddled Malware, wouldn't you use encryption or something else to reduce the likelihood that the malware would be found or hidden in a folder, which could not be easily discovered?   She could have used the excuse, I am a Malware Investigator and I am carrying samples....  Be Aware. 

 

Regards

 

Caute_cautim


@rslade wrote:

A woman got into Mar-a-Lago despite not being on the access list, with no clear reason for being there, and carrying two different passports.

 

She was then investigated and arrested.  She was found to be carrying a thumb drive which contained "malicious malware" according to the Secret Service.  (In my career researching malware, I don't know how often I encountered benign malware ...)

 

Everyone seems to be horrified by this event.  My reaction is a little bit different ...

 

In my career researching malware, all of my computers (except for one that recently had it's drive blown off and replaced) have zoos of malware on them.  Crossing the US border, frequently, I did wonder what I should say when/if I ever got asked to submit my computer to a search.  I know that "no" is not an option.  "OK" might work.  But I always wondered about "OK, but you should know that the machine you want to examine has malware on it, and anything you catch in examining it is your own fault ..."


Regards

 

Caute_cautim

 

dcontesti
Community Champion


@rslade wrote:

 

 

In my career researching malware, all of my computers (except for one that recently had it's drive blown off and replaced) have zoos of malware on them.  Crossing the US border, frequently, I did wonder what I should say when/if I ever got asked to submit my computer to a search.  I know that "no" is not an option.  "OK" might work.  But I always wondered about "OK, but you should know that the machine you want to examine has malware on it, and anything you catch in examining it is your own fault ..."


I used to ensure that I had a clean computer when I was traveling so that I could avoid any "problems".  It was bad enough having dual citizenship and carrying two passports.  This meant that I had to have two computers at my disposal at all times but made my life easier not so much traveling to places but back through the US or into Canada.  As part of the Forensic team, I would have all sorts of fun things on a computer which could not be removed until the formal investigation was over so I had many computers and portable hard drives at my disposal.

 

d