The World’s Most Expensive USB Stick Was Found In The Street

Data loss is a common disaster in this information age. The loss of some important data will bring countless losses. Besides, it’s even worse to have a drive formatted/lost that is because all data saved here will be lost. What’s worst? The entire data storage device (with lots of files and folders) is broken or missing.

The World’s Most Expensive USB Stick Is Found in the Street

The data disaster happened to Heathrow airport is really an astonishing one. It is said that a member of the public have found a USB disk lying in the street in a London suburb. Losing USB is a trivial matter actually, but things will be totally different when the USB drive contains significant data. That’s what makes the lost drive found in London street the world’s most expensive USB stick.

After being used for a long time, the USB drive is full of numerous files and folders. They then insert it into the computer at local public library, and find about 1000 files, 76 folders and large amount of data on the security systems and procedures at Heathrow (a very large airport located in London).

What if your USB flash drive can’t be recognized by computer? Please try the solutions mentioned in this post:

USB Flash Drive Not Recognized on Windows 10/11? Fix It Now

Learn how to recover an unrecognized USB. Then try assigning a drive letter, formatting, etc., to solve the “USB flash drive not recognized” issue.

Read More

Security Threats Were Raised by the Loss of USB Stick

It seems that none of the data saved in the USB stick found in the street was encrypted or protected by password. The drive is also not protected by write protection. This raises huge security threats.

That member of the public then contacted The Sunday Mirror newspaper and told what happened in detail. The newspaper then published a story telling the public about this incident and pointing out the huge potential threats that will be resulted from the data leakage:

• Affecting the airport security
• Putting people at risk (Queen Elizabeth II, politicians and VIPs are included)
• …

Heathrow chiefs were struggling after finding their memory stick full of confidential information was lost and then found in the street; they claimed that the loss of this USB stick has posed “a risk to national security”.

Afterwards, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) fined Heathrow Airport Ltd (HAL) due to its dereliction in looking after the data; the fine is up to £120,000 ($160,000) and the company was told to never allow such things to happen again.

Information Included on the USB Stick

What’s exactly on the USB drive? According to Heathrow Airport chiefs, only 1% of the data saved on the lost memory stick was personal data. Yet, it seems to be a white lie in order to prevent causing unrest. A training video founded on the USB stick tells the truth – much information of 10 people (who have participated in important security procedures at the Heathrow airport) was leaked, including:

• Name
• Date of birth
• Mobile numbers
• Vehicle registration
• Passport details
• Etc.

Other 12 to 50 personnel who are involved in security matters are also affected by this incident; their names and job titles are exposing.

The Sunday Mirror newspaper then added: other important security data are also included in this drive.

• Patrol timetables
• Confidential safety precautions aiming at protecting Queen Elizabeth II
• The routes of British Cabinet ministers and foreign dignitaries taken through the Heathrow airport

The incident taught us a lesson: if you are not careful enough, there’s possibility that significant data will eventually fall into the hands of malicious people. You must try your best to prevent data leakage.

Here’s how to fix a broken USB stick if you are in need.