Cheshire Cat Photo Blog(...said the Cat: 'we're all mad here....')

IBM apologized for the free USB thumbdrives that it handed out at its booth at the AusCERT security conference in Australia this week. According to letter to AusCERT delegates from Glenn Wightwick, chief technologist at IBM Australia, “Unfortunately we have discovered that some of these USB keys contained malware and we suspect that all USB keys may be affected.” The letter was reprinted on the Beast or Buddha blog. The malware affects computers running Windows.

CNET quotes from the letter with regard to the malware, which has been known since 2008:

“The malware is detected by the majority of current Anti Virus products [as at 20/05/2010] and been known since 2008,” the letter said. “The malware is known by a number of names and is contained in the setup.exe and autorun.ini files. It is spread when the infected USB device is inserted into a Microsoft Windows workstation or server whereby the setup.exe and autorun.ini files run automatically.”

The letter goes on to provide steps for removing the malware: turn off system restore, update antivirus software, do a scan using a second antivirus product, and back up all vital files on the system before re-installing the operating system “as a precautionary measure.”

CNET’s advice: “… disable AutoRun in Windows or be wary of USB, particularly freebies, or both.”

-Bill at

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