Police award cyber security quiz winners with infected USBs

Taiwan’s national police agency has apologised after giving out 54 infected memory sticks as prizes in a government-run cyber security quiz.

In total, 250 flash drives were given out at the event hosted by Taiwan’s Presidential Office from 11-15 December 2017, which aimed to highlight the government’s determination to stop cyber crime.

The memory sticks containing malware, identified as the XtbSeDuA programme, has been linked to fraud because of its ability to steal personal data.

The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) apologised for the error and blamed the mistake on a third-party contractor.

All drives were manufactured in China but CIB believes the bug originated from a Taiwan-based supplier.

Written by Leah Alger

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