A USB drive may seem like the most convenient medium for managing the placement of files but many companies around the world have already said no to it. They explicitly forbade using the tool at their workspaces. The reasons lie in numerous risks the usage of the USB drive comes with.
To know what risks the use of a USB drive presents to you — the average user, read the following info on what actually you need to be aware of when opting for the USB drive to store your files.
Is It Safe To Use USB Drive?
In theory you can say they are safe. But in reality you may come across different in nature risks that will put your data to danger. Beginning from the most obvious ones like the physical loss of a drive and the malware you can get infected with while connecting the device to another computer.
These two reasons alone made the companies around the world to abandon the tool. Fair enough when you can instead use some cloud storage with far less risks present.
What Risks Does USB Drive Have?
The biggest risk you can come across is the malware or computer viruses coming in contact with your removable storage that can potentially lead to serious and often undetected security breach.
The attacks that have been conducted through unsafe USB drives are difficult to track and stop. The thing that allows cybercriminals to spy on anyone as long as they wish.
Another issue that doesn’t shine a positive light onto USB drives is data leakage or data loss. To lose a USB drive with sensitive information will mean significant damages to work processes or potential GDPR noncompliance. That is why there are working tips for protecting your personal data.
Compromised data can influence the company’s image, slowing it’s development. Based on the scope of the damage done it can interfere with milestones, business strategies and roadmaps.
In short the usage of USB drive may cause you the following issues:
- GDPR issues. The General Data Protection Regulation is a set of rules concerning personal information and how it is dealt with within businesses in the European Union and the regions beyond. And if the data of your customers gets leaked then you will surely face these laws;
- Reputation damage. It is certain that the chances of anyone cooperating with the company whose employees don’t know how to handle customer’s data fall significantly lower. And it’s the best case scenario when sometimes the data compromise can lead to much more unpleasant consequences.
- Data leakage. It’s simple: you have lost your USB drive and someone can find it and out of curiosity look what’s inside. Or that could be malware infection that has led to data leakage. The usual consequences of data leakage might be those described above.
- Data loss. If it’s ransomware that has infected your computer then you can most certainly say goodbye to the data stored on the USB drive you have inserted to your infected computer.
- Security breaches. If you connect your USB device to the infected computer your stored data might get compromised via security breach.
- Malware infections. Back in the day cybercriminals used floppy disks to distribute spyware, malware and viruses. Now they do so with the help of USB drives.
Does It Enough To Scan USB Drive For Protection
It should be enough to some extent just to scan a USB drive for any threats. But keep in mind that protection software might miss some of them because no antivirus software guarantees 100% protection.
For more robust security users need to have one more security solution in order to have some sort of a back up.
How Gridinsoft Anti-Malware Can Help You With USB Drive Risks
If you’re the one still to use USB drives then our recommendation is definitely for you. Try to use Gridinsoft Anti-Malware for enabling the desired cyber security and safety while storing some of your valuable data and info on a USB drive. You can try to use it as a main solution or as a backup for the other main one.
