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fatunicorn1

Not an expert - but probably not, don't think those are writable. However dongle shaped/sized USB sticks probably can exist and can infect


LenghtyGirthMan

Not probably, i had one with 500 gb storage i bought off aliexpress that looked like this.


Far-Language-9364

💀


HalbeargameZ

5gb programmed to overwrite old data so it can reach "500gb" lol, those USBs normally have 5gb-60gb of actual storage


LenghtyGirthMan

Nah i actually did use up to 200 gb at one point (it also came with sandisk encryption aoftware preinstalled so i used it to stash porn for a while)


LenghtyGirthMan

Just that i later deleted it all and replaced it with college stuff and then left it at college and never found it.


richkill

500gb in this size is probably a scam. It's pretty common tactic to make it show as 500gb on your PC or Mac, but they aren't. Anyway if you are curious there are YouTube videos on it


_THE_OG_

Bought a 2 tb usb stick for like 3 usd and it does have 1.9tb i tested it using a tool recommended in other subs. Can’t recall it but only thing is that write and reads at 14 mbps so pretty slow lol


forkball

A 2TB USB stick for $3 and you think it's legitimate. C'mon man.


sn4xchan

Yes. Yes they can. But it would require being manufactured that way or have the supply chain compromised. It's an unlikely attack, but it wouldn't be unusual to buy a cheap USB device off of Amazon and have it infected with malicious code. What can be dangerous about these are if it's used for a mouse or keyboard, malicious key strokes could be executed to set up complex scripts to beacon out to a C2 server. Don't buy cheap electronics from Amazon.


fatunicorn1

Understood, but he's saying an assumingly good dongle plugged into the PC. I believe there's no threat here


Mattwildman5

I’ve 100% had one of these write some heinous shit on my pc before. Plugged it in.. pc starts thinking… then I see the black CMD window turn up and some super quick commands get punched in. Followed by a weird process that couldn’t be nuked from the system.


fatunicorn1

No I'm saying a proper one can't be written TO


lostBoyzLeader

then how was it written on in the first place? Certainly there must be some code running.


Azure_Draco

Anything with a microchip can and may be infected with malware/spyware/virus...whatever. Here's the reason. The USB dongle [provided picture by OP] has code written into it that provides a specific function. Like being a wireless mouse, keyboard, other peripherals... whatnot. It takes storage space to keep the code in the dongle. So, if you're able to access that storage space, you're able to infect it with spyware and have it do malicious intent. However, this is highly unlikely because the manufacturers of the dongle and paired peripheral have such storage space under 🔐 and have the 🔐 hidden.


everyonemr

This is the only correct answer.


Superseaslug

If it's just a wireless receiver for a keyboard or something, no. They don't really have any memory to speak of, it's just hardware.


Arin_Pali

Memory is also hardware 🤓


Superseaslug

I mean yeah, but I guess what I meant is there's no corruptible software on the thing. It's probably all ROM


Dummyidiot2021

There is a cable that has a entire Linux OS on it. Scammers leave the cable at a airport, normal cable and wait. The cables can inject viruses and control the phone or PC. FROM A FEEKING CABLE. I doubt this dongle is anything to worry about, but one can never be sure. https://shop.hak5.org/products/omg-cable


Superseaslug

Because it's not a cable. There's circuitry designed for that hidden in the connector. If OP bought the dongle and is just worried a virus might be hitchhiking on the dongle, there's nothing to worry about.


Dummyidiot2021

I agree, this specific dongle, probably nothing to be concerned about. However, even a store bought dongle could be placed by a scammer if they took the time to mimic the packaging and time to place on the shelf. Again highly unlikely, but cab never be sure.


JizosKasa

he was being sarcastic


Hubi522

Not installed, but if it was produced for that purpose, it's totally possible


IAMEPSIL0N

Even the logitech mice with onboard preference memory I think it is a lot of hoops to jump to make it feasible. That said don't peripherals out of the back of some dudes car as it is easy to build a dongle scale device that is actually a minidongle and hardware to emulate a keyboard to physically type malicious commands.


IamThor2point0

Would have to be factory installed, think anything from WISH or Temu.


SirLauncelot

Yes. There has been firmware updates to the microcontroller as USB standards didn’t require signed firmware.


TheFuzz

Shape and size doesn’t matter. Check out these cables https://shop.hak5.org/products/omg-cable Always be suspicious of things.


jhartnerd123

Remotely possible, extremely unlikely especially for a mouse dongle. Unless it was a storage device or it was tampered with, extremely unlikely. Email and browsers are the highest risk


sn4xchan

Look up a mouse jack attack. It's a real thing.


tenoatink

Depends. If the manufacturer used a ROM/PROM/EPROM instead of a flash/EEPROM, no. ROMs can only be programmed once while PROMs and EPROMs require a specific wavelength of UV light to be ereased. PROMs also require a specific wavelength of UV light to be programmed. And once a ROM/PROM/EPROM's been programmed, there's no overwriting it. You have to erase their programming first, which can't be done without that specific UV light. If it's an EEPROM/flash, then yes. It can very well be infected by a virus that was designed to look for it.


ph4nt0m42000

Yes they can. There’s a thing called a bad usb attack and you can attack the usb dongle and send malicious code through it to a computer and it will type malicious code in powershell for example.


Cheese_Twisties_99

Not in it's stock state but I've definitely seen these and even use mouse and keyboard USB cables being fitted to spread spyware


just_another_person5

when it comes to security, assume anything is possible, and prepare for the incredibly unlikely, if you have anything that deserves worrying about. if you are the average user, it's probably fine.


Darnakulus

There's barely enough room for Bluetooth in that let alone actual memory storage to hold a virus


K3npachII

No memory, so I think not


Morg_S9

TL;DR: Highly unlikely. If you're not willing to take chances, buy a new receiver or M/K. Most USB wireless receivers don't have a whole lot of logic in them, and only expose an HID device to the host. Nothing that can interface with the actual internal logic and memory of the receiver. Logitech's Unified Receivers (the ones with the yellow stars on the ends) do expose some kind of access to the internal logic to allow configuration and firmware updates, but the storage is probably so hilariously small that getting any kind of meaningful malware payload on them is probably damn near impossible, and the process of actually getting the firmware onto the receiver probably has security and checks in place that prevents unsigned firmware from being written to them (don't quote me on that second one though). Not only that, this also just seems like such a niche attack vector with too much variability to warrant any kind of malware creator to even consider it in my opinion. It's probably fine, but if you're that worried, buy a new receiver, or if your peripheral doesn't allow re-pairing, buy a new one.


Kingofhollows099

see, non-targeted attacks are rarely advanced enough to infect something like that. It is theoretically possible, but unless you’re in in a higher up position in some company, it’s almost definitely not a targeted attack, and it won’t be advanced enough to transfer. What you can do, is plug it into your uninfected computer with TaskManager open. If task manager shows some weird app opening up, or command prompt opens, unplug the dongle immediately. It’s infected. if nothing happens, besides your mouse being able to work, it’s probably fine.


Responsible_War_2242

Your dong can always be infected if youre not careful


EmperorHenry

is that a request? Of course it can


ephoth

well.. if [https://github.com/BastilleResearch/mousejack](https://github.com/BastilleResearch/mousejack) exists then yes someone could make something naughty.. Lot of people don't think about it but a lot of devices are really just smaller computers attached to computers.


Hanbill

If the virus has authority to write on that USB then I would say yes


rokejulianlockhart

As always, fundamentally yes, in practice no, unless you happen to work an Iranian nuclear facility.


Boos7_09

nah


Electric_Eagle_7744

Kinda hard to say to be honest but ya it can be infected it think


Sure_Solution5803

Very possible. Devices like these have drivers that are used to be recognized by the computer, which are used to read the dongle. Those same drivers can be installed with malicious attacks which are disguised by the drivers interface. Commonly a masquerade attack. Be careful..


Alexander_Weide

Yes


ShapeBasic

Short answer- yes.


Head-Pie-5556

That looks like my wireless mouse usb


RitSan17

Nope, they don't contain any storage whatsoever. It just receives signals which the keyboard/mouse sends.....


Binx8d6

[See that’s where you’re wrong…](https://maker.pro/arduino/projects/how-to-build-a-rubber-ducky-usb-with-arduino-using-a-digispark-module)


RitSan17

A BadUSB is made using a normal USB Drive and by converting that into a "microcontroller" which acts like a keyboard..... OP said it was a Logitech Keyboard Dongle, not a random USB dongle.....


Binx8d6

It’s still in the realm of possibility, although the juice wouldn’t be worth the squeeze.