Information leakage through second hand USB flash drives within the United Kingdom
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publisher
secau Security Research Centre, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia
Faculty
Faculty of Computing, Health and Science
School
School of Computer and Security Science / Security Research Centre (secAU)
RAS ID
13022
Abstract
The pervasiveness of flash based USB storage alongside increasing capacity and lowering price points has lead to a documented potential for information leakage. Such a potential is significantly raised when employees are able to use personal devices within a business environment with little regard to safe disposal practices. This study purchased a range of USB storage devices from UK based auction sites to determine what if any data was recoverable. The study found a total of 36136 recoverable files including a range of data detailing private information of previous owners, confidential corporate data, with twenty percent of the purchased USB devices securely wiped before sale.
DOI
10.4225/75/57b2ba7e40cea
Access Rights
free_to_read
Comments
Widya, C., Clarke, N., & Bolan, C. (2011). Information leakage through second hand USB flash drives within the United Kingdom. Paper presented at the 9th Australian Digital Forensics Conference, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia. Available here.