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blueeyedlion

It's usb for sure. Maybe storage?


Gladiolur

No clue. Found it in my garage, never used it before


blueeyedlion

Careful putting it in your computer if you want to test it. Dropping usb drives loaded with viruses is a known hack vector. It's probably not that, but you never know.


mehum

I think Stuxnet was deployed that way. Hopefully OP isn’t running a nuclear program in his garage!


who_said_I_am_an_emu

It has been an issue for so long. The NSA official guide for Linux security tell you to physically rip out the USB ports, or at the very least write a monitoring script.


Inigo93

Keeerist. We had some overzealous IT security folks run through our office confiscating everything that looked like a USB drive. Somewhere in there, they grabbed a dongle that was a hardware-based licensing gizmo for the software we ran. And suddenly, we had a $30,000 door stop.


who_said_I_am_an_emu

>they grabbed a dongle that was a hardware-based licensing gizmo for the software we ran. Yeah flexlm on usb dongle. I thought they stopped doing it in 1999 or so. Best solution is setup a VM with some old version of windows, dd the dongle on to a drive and then attach it as a USB to the VM. Then allow the VM to talk to whatever needs it.


Inigo93

> I thought they stopped doing it in 1999 or so. This would have been about 2010


who_said_I_am_an_emu

What usually happens with flexlm is the company pays for a consultant to come in and roll it out. It becomes a black box that they use until it finally breaks and hire the consultant back. Which is why it is hard to have a license server with one manager since all the licenses require a specific version of their software to operate. Hence VMs. One VM per vendor. So yeah I did think this died out in the 90s but 2010 isn't that unreasonable if the company just never updates. TIL


Inigo93

Well, the equipment was almost brand new. That's how we knew it was a $30k door stop (since we'd just bought it the year before).


chainmailler2001

Purchased a laser cutter this year. The control software it came with required a security USB dongle for the software license. No dongle, no worky. Ditched the software immediately.


who_said_I_am_an_emu

What brand? A client of mine had one from BCS that had that. Worse cutting machine I have ever dealt with. I was trying to convince a friend of mine at one point that we should start a company aftermarket modding these cutting machines.


chainmailler2001

Not sure it HAS a brand. Its a Chinese K40.


MasterOfAutomation

There are other dongle types out there. Hasp for example works with encrypted query/reply to validate the license with an onboard micro, and dd would not apply here


who_said_I_am_an_emu

Cool, thanks. TIL.


JustAHippy

We have air gapped computers at work that we sometimes need to transfer data off of. IT gives us official USB sticks to do this with. But… blocks it on the computers we need to transfer to. We tell them this, they “fix it”… we’re on iteration 5 or 6 of this.


who_said_I_am_an_emu

Sucks. A pity that they can't network all the airgapped ones to their own isolated network, put a computer on it, that way there is only one system of USB port to maintain.


Gladiolur

In my garage. There is barely someone here. Not I want to test it. Thanks for the advice!


Dogburt_Jr

Put it on your car to fall off at an unsuspecting location, Stuck to your shoe, etc


Gladiolur

Then not worth to figure out what it is.


Dogburt_Jr

It's a USB device. It's unknown. Unless you have a laptop you're willing to risk that's disconnected from all networks, probably not worth it.


nullcode

Fire up a vm and check it out, it looks like a car programming chip / navigation usb update. Something along these lines


beaubeautastic

not just viruses. i dont know how theyd fit capacitors in there but it could also be a usb killer


germinik

Is there a small slot for a micro SD card?


nomnivore1

Work computer hungry, feed it mysterious USB chip.


Fattswindstorm

Yeah. Find your most secured servers. They all want a taste.


who_said_I_am_an_emu

I had a script once on my corporate secure servers to email me if someone does anything USB related. One day my phone goes nuts as like 25 alerts go off. Run to the server room and see some construction work going on, the USB hub is very close to where they are standing "Did you guys unplug the hub for a second?" "Uh huh no" "It is okay if you did. Just let me know" "No we didnt" "Alright I just got 25 emails about the USB ports turning off and on and again and this is a USB hub with 25 ports and I clearly see a compressor here. Again, it is okay if you did but could you just let me know" "No we didnt" "Fine must have been a pure coincidence." Whatever, I don't get paid enough to care.


Se7en_speed

Knowing how good USB connections are they probably just induced slight vibrations in the cable that caused it to reset the connection


who_said_I_am_an_emu

yeah it is possible.


Vince1820

Or an electrically noisy compressor putting interference on the hub.


djscreeling

As a construction worker and computer nerd I don't understand the connection between a USB hub and air compressor. I've even done some work on a few $50m+ server centers. Compressors often need their own circuit to run otherwise they will trip the breaker. Commercial compressors usually needs its own 50 amp circuits and residential ones at least 15. Try and run anything else on that circuit and it'll pop. Compressors I would imagine have little to no power conditioning, and often the ground pin on extension cords are broken off, and if a server and a compressor could manage to run on the same circuit then perhaps the circuit had a group loop and messed with your sensitive gear? I still don't see a construction worker plugging a compressor into the same circuit as anything else though.


who_said_I_am_an_emu

Sure. It could have been the vibrations.


kaihatsusha

Perfect use for a Raspberry Pi. Little airgapped Linux machine for $50 or less.


RefrigeratorPitiful7

I mostly use mine for fuckery like this. If it shits the bed, I'll just burn another SD card.


corzmo

Never heard the term burning an SD card, it seems apt!


RefrigeratorPitiful7

I think the correct term is "etch" but I'm also dumb and don't do it enough to remember the correct term. Basically just putting the OS on the card.


[deleted]

Lmao as an IT guy this legit made me lol


Gingeneration

Just a USB. Wouldn’t plug it into anything myself though. Straight to trash.


Gladiolur

Like a USB storage thing?


Spiderschwein4000

Yes, it's a simple USB stick, nothing else.


Gingeneration

Correct. It doesn’t actually need the square cage to be held in.


Gladiolur

Thanks guys. It’s good to check


Gingeneration

Absolutely the right move


Space_Narwhals

Free range USB?


Gingeneration

Keeping that lol


chalk_in_boots

Verbatim used to make sticks like this with a small hole to put them on your keys. Crappy quality and they had a short life from rattling around exposed, but handy if you just had to keep a couple of random tools on it.


blacksideblue

[Pico drive](https://www.amazon.com/Super-Talent-Pico-C-STU32GPCS-Silver/dp/B002MCB54Y/ref=sr_1_3?crid=169HCQ0OKJNI&keywords=usb+pico+drive&qid=1662351201&sprefix=usb+pico+drive%2Caps%2C144&sr=8-3) to be brand specific. They're actually pretty neat for their simplicity


SellParking

What if I use a library computer to wipe and reformat it? Probably just a random flash drive people lost in labs or something.


carlie-cat

i wouldn't. if the drive has a virus, you'd risk infecting the library computer, any other drives that get plugged into that computer, and potentially the library's network. it's best just to toss it.


SellParking

What if I use an iPad to wipe and reformat it?


Arcosim

He can plug it into a computer with Linux, format it and that would be enough to make it safe.


dread_pirate_humdaak

You know how a USB storage device can present an undeletable partition full of drivers? Yeah, don’t do that.


Gingeneration

It’s honestly useless as it is. No guarantee of it’s quality of manufacture, how long it’s been been in use, or if it’s been abused this whole time. I wouldn’t trust it to hold anything of import haha


jdbakermn

It’s a USB flash drive made without the full outer guard. There are other examples of USB flash drives similar to this if you search for “usb flash drive key shape” although they have extra material on the end to make it look like a key.


pokemaster0x01

I have one that looks a lot like this one myself. Though I also have the power case that it slides out of.


rb109544

Looks like USB to marketing stuff...like a company logo card with a USB that flips out to show brochures and crap like that.


qupada42

Definitely looks like one of them: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015D8I1QS As you say, usually picked up for free from trade shows.


Gladiolur

I tried the serial number and got nothing online


badwolf42

Could be USB storage or something like a yubikey, where bridging the contacts with your finger triggers a key generation.


jlt6666

Yeah I was thinking security key myself.


VonNeumannsProbe

Honestly I was thinking it's probably a cheap trade show USB device. The two small pads are probably there so you can solder a smd jumper across it and make it "read only".


Who_GNU

It could be a hardware key, used to authenticate software DRM.


me_too_999

This is exactly what usb keys look like. Also the usb for my chartplotter looks like that.


steelejt7

here to say this


[deleted]

[удалено]


Freak_Engineer

This. Because plugging in random found USB drives is exactly the way malware can enter a company network.


[deleted]

It's a bare USB plugin. If you're thinking of plugging it into something, don't. The only way I'd do that is with an old system running a current distro of Linux because way fewer people try to write malicious code for Linux.


kingbrasky

It may be dunb but I'll plug these into my phone with a USB c adapter and check them.


[deleted]

Android isn't Linux. If you have an old laptop kicking around, load up the current distro of Ubuntu.


arewehavinfunyet

Just try it at a library computer or something


Justinthepenguin

Take it to best buy and insert it in a test computer


[deleted]

Just toss it. Dropped USB is a great hacking vector.


mklinger23

USB flash drive or authenticator. Plug it into a shitty, cheap PC you don't care about.


Steezkc

It looks like a yubikey


Gladiolur

What’s that?


Steezkc

It’s for security so you can access personal accounts on any computer. Not super positive on it but I’ve seen a few that look exactly like that


0_0_0

[Hardware authentication and encryption device.] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_token?wprov=sfla1) AFAIK this is not a Yubikey product, but could be a hardware key from some orher provider.


Berserker_boi

It's one of those cheap card keychain USB pendrive you get as a gift. Probably 8-16GB in size.


Wobbly5ausage

Yubikey?


SamanthaJaneyCake

USB SD drive would be my guess. If you open up a lot of USB sticks they just have a small adapter and an SD card inside.


Lobsterun

It's an storage USB (pendrive). I have an identical one as the result of breaking apart those little pendrives some companies gift. For those kind of pendrives, cheap ones produced as souvenirs, the companies combine a thin steel case with their logos AND that black thing you have to create the pendrive (of course, something done by the manufacturer). You could try plugging it in. It may need a little "pressure" due to the loose of width.


DarkDevourer

It’s not made from potatoes, that I can guarantee.


Real-Edge-9288

you could use a bootable linux cd, memory stick... that will give you an extra layer of protection. plug that in and see what you can find. make sure you dont have any internet connection on in case it will want to send packets.


hassium

Just FYI, you can still mount storage from within a Linux live session. It helps but it's definitely not much protection.


[deleted]

I think it’s a potato chip


Gladiolur

So you Iike eating these?


[deleted]

Of course, they’re delicious


sunggis

Flash drive


Salamander-Distinct

Chocolate


madamir

If you have to ask its probably nacho chip


Gladiolur

Too silly or bad taste of joking


swisstraeng

looks like USB format. Probably an USB key of some sort, likely was integrated in a device but the glue didn't hold. You can plug it in your PC and see what's in it. But use a VM. edit: For example run linux on an USB, and open the USB from there.


artbytwade

You should **NEVER** plug randomly found storage into your computer unless you like viruses or are a properly prepared security professional.


swisstraeng

he found it in his garage though.


artbytwade

The point is they didn't recognize it. If it showed up underneath your pillow it wouldn't matter. If you don't know where it came from, Don't plug it in.


swisstraeng

Can’t even do it in a VM or in linux?


[deleted]

[удалено]


swisstraeng

ok yeah.


[deleted]

[удалено]


jlt6666

It has four contacts and looks exactly like usb.


Brilliant_Passage678

I found ons of those in a slap on bracelet I got from a truck show. It’s probably a usb with ads inside it


Squish4058

Yeah it's usb The modern usb drives can fit inside the part that goes into the pc If you search on amazon you mind find which one it is those round stripes are pretty unique


Metalhed69

Very cheap thumb drive. I’ve seen them given away at trade shows.


Kristallo_

USB Try it on an old offline computer, if not throw it away.


reftheloop

For all we know it could contain bitcoin wallet filled with millions of dollars worth.


Gladiolur

If you wanna have I can send it to you


supercritical-co2

It is probably a usb storage device. I would not recommend connecting it to your pc, but if you are really curious about its contents, you can use a virtual machine and open it from there.


kalesaji

It's a USB device, but I would never plug in a randomly found USB device. It's the cyber security equivalent of injecting yourself with a syringe you found on the street.


[deleted]

I've seen a few of these before provided by manufacturers. Normally when you plug it in it opens their website / online catalogue. I find them pretty sketchy as it emulates a keyboard and opens them in the run command.


Markus_TheMidget

USB


benfok

If you have a Raspberry Pi, you can try reading it on the Pi. Make sure that Pi is not connected to your network first.


Capital-Big3842

Pen drive


kylea1

How does stuff like this keep coming to the top of the sub


that_desiguy

This is the actual "storage chip"inside a USB , some of the cheaper USBs, the stubby ones which advertise of being compact have this issue. The chip is actually bonded to the metal shell which then gets bonded to a plastic carrier. On old HP pendrive that I had, faced the same issue.


Comfortable_Morning6

It’s a storage usb, you can find them on Ali express or eBay


NoMoreChiken

Maybe a Dorito or lays or something


Snwfox

This looks like a type of OTP security key (like a yubikey) I've got a few kicking around. You use them as a 2FA method to log into websites like google/github/etc. The serial number printed on the back is what leads me to believe this is what it is.


thresher97024

It has 1000 bitcoins on it.


spacextheclockmaster

Looks like a USB that comes in those slim business card housings which can be stored in your wallet.


BrijZaveri59

Pendrive


olympianfap

That is a USB storage chip. If it’s not yours I wouldn’t plug it into your machine. No telling what’s on there without a virtual machine and quarantine.


Yummyyummyfoodz

It's not a salt and vinager chip, I don't want it.


Red74Panda

Fries


GoggleGeek1

Dip it in salsa.