Update: I just spent $40 on a 'secure' USB drive that was already full of malware

I bought a cheap drive from a street vendor in Chicago to move some client files, and my antivirus went nuts the second I plugged it in. Turns out the thing was pre-loaded with keyloggers and ransomware, and I had to pay a guy to clean my whole system. Has anyone else found nasty surprises on supposedly new hardware?

3 comments

3 Comments

lily_ramirez44mo ago

Ever check the seller's other stuff?

hugog431mo ago

Look up from their feedback too, that's where the real story is. @tarahart totally nailed it with that digital garage sale comparison, I swear I've seen listings that look like someone just cleaned out their trunk. Last month I almost bought a "mint condition" camera that turned out to be from the same seller who had a listing for a half-eaten bag of chips. I always check the seller's other stuff now and it's saved me from buying a few items that would've been total headaches. Sometimes you can tell from their other junk that they're either a hoarder or just trying to dump trash on people. It's like seeing someone's whole eBay life story in one scroll.

tarahart4mo ago

Checked their other listings once and it was all broken electronics and used socks. Lily_ramirez4, that's a solid tip to avoid a bad surprise. Felt like walking into a digital garage sale from hell. Now I always scroll down before clicking buy.