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Heathrow Airport Security Files Found on USB Stick In The Street (bbc.co.uk)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the removable-storage-media dept.

"The BBC is reporting a security probe after security data about Heathrow was discovered on a USB found on the street," writes long-time Slashdot readers Martin S. From the article: The Sunday Mirror reported that the USB stick had 76 folders with maps, videos and documents, including details of measures used to protect the Queen. A man found it in west London and handed it into the paper, it said. Heathrow said all of its security plans had been reviewed and it was "confident" the airport was secure. "We have also launched an internal investigation to understand how this happened and are taking steps to prevent a similar occurrence in future," it said.
The Mirror reports that the USB stick was not encrypted and did not require a password, according to an article shared by Slashdot reader rastos1. Insiders "admitted it sparked a 'very, very urgent' probe, and that it posed 'a risk to national security'."

9 of 116 comments (clear)

  1. If you are the CTO ... by BoRegardless · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Security only applies to everyone else.

    1. Re: If you are the CTO ... by dougdonovan · · Score: 4, Funny

      obviously an hourly wage security person is missing their usb.

  2. Can't be by nospam007 · · Score: 3, Funny

    In the UK, USB sticks with sensitive or secret info always have to be forgotten in an underground car, it's the law.

  3. No Excuse! by Murdoch5 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Why wasn't the USB key in question a high security, hardware encrypted device? There is no reason to not have a military FIPS-140-2, AES encrypted USB key that can self wipe and self destruct, with full location tracking and remote kill switch.

    There is no excuse for files of this importance to be left on a "normal" key. Who ever provided the key and who ever takes care of the systems the files were copied off of, should face criminal charges.

    1. Re: No Excuse! by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Everyone who uses encryption uses it in a way that would be considered paranoid by normal people. Normal people don't understand encryption and have no idea they even use it when they do (e.g. https)

      --
      Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
  4. Who plugs in USB drives found in the street? by h33t+l4x0r · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'd sooner chew gum found in the street.

    1. Re:Who plugs in USB drives found in the street? by Opportunist · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I do. It's my job.

      Then again, I plug it into systems that exist for that sole reason...

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    2. Re:Who plugs in USB drives found in the street? by coofercat · · Score: 3, Funny

      The digital 'glory hole' ;-)

  5. Only an idiot plugs in a found USB by Martin+S. · · Score: 3, Interesting

    My original submission included making the point that only an idiot plugs in a found USB but this has been removed in the edit and my scepticism has been lost.

    The reported fact that this was found on the street amongst fallen leaves is highly unlikely and suspicious. It does provide plausible deniability for the journalist over their source, but my money is this will be revealed to be a hoax.

    The newspaper that published this story, offers to pay for stories. My belief is that there is a very good chance this will be revealed to be entirely a hoax. A assembly of public source data to get a reward/story bounty from the newspaper.

    It is possible, but unlikely this could be a honey trap for the journalist, or anybody with the USB including attack code intended to compromise their PC/Network. This is how STUX worked.