Security News > 2023 > March > Journalist hurt by exploding USB bomb drive

Police in Ecuador are investigating attacks on media organizations across the country after a journalist was injured by an exploding USB flash drive.

Lenin Artieda, a journalist and presenter for an Ecuavisa TV program, was reportedly injured as a result of a USB drive that blew up when he inserted it into a computer.

Fundamedios said three other journalists, Mauricio Ayora, from TC Televisión, and Milton Pérez, from Teleamazonas, and Miguel Rivadeneira, from Exa FM radio, also received USB flash drives accompanied by threatening letters.

Two of the drives, the group said, were confirmed to contain explosives.

Back in a 2018 YouTube show, infosec equipment firm Hak5 hosted a demonstration with security researcher MG covering exploding USB drives - more as a proof-of-concept prank than an assassination primer.

MG told The Register, "A small thumb drive is going to be dangerous with something like Semtex and a fast enough acting ignition. Your hand is going to be directly on the drive as it gets power."

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2023/03/22/usb_bomb_journalist/