Ecuadorian Journalists Targeted by Exploding USB Drives
A journalist from an Ecuadorian news agency received a USB thumb drive loaded with military-grade explosives.according to Associated Press, at least five booby-trapped USB flash drives were sent to journalists across Ecuador. Thankfully, only one device actually exploded and no one was injured. The suspect was detained for questioning.
Lenin ArtiedaA journalist from the Ecuavisa news organization was the unfortunate recipient of a USB flash drive that actually exploded. Artieda opened the envelope Monday morning and pulled out a nondescript USB drive. He plugged it into his computer and it exploded, destroying his PC.
Neither Artieda nor anyone else in the room was injured in the explosion. Subsequent investigations by authorities revealed that only half of the explosives in the USB flash drive case had ignited. So journalists and others who were in the office at the time of the explosion were in some ways lucky.
🔴 #Attendado Ecuavisa | 📲 https://t.co/befPnjGJWw pic.twitter.com/RHBCWiXYDQMarch 20, 2023
Artieda is well known for news reporting on crime and corruption. He apparently ruffled the feathers of one or more nefarious Ecuadorians to attract this unwelcome attention. Government officials are calling USB drive email bombs causing domestic terrorism.
Explosives packed in USB drives RDXRDX, a high explosive that is more powerful than TNT and has no distinguishable odor or taste, was widely used in World War II. You’ve probably heard of the plasticized form of RDX, the explosive contained in C-4.
Other Ecuadorian news outlets were similarly targeted. Teleamazonas, Radio Exa, and TC Televisión also received devices, but did not explode, according to AP reports. The report doesn’t explain why these devices didn’t explode, but presumably the USB port they were plugged into wasn’t providing high enough voltage to detonate the RDX. Authorities also intercepted one explosive USB device before it reached its destination.
Computer users should always be on the lookout for unclaimed, discovered, or stranded USB drives. Plugging in an unknown USB drive is dangerous, even if it’s not rigged with explosives. Viruses such as spyware, keyloggers, and Trojan horses can lurk. There is also a USB killer stick. Electronic device friendly.