A few weeks ago I found a flash drive in my building. I was on my way out and put it into my purse and promptly forgot about it. I found it today and decided to see if anything was on it that identified the owner.

There is gigs and gigs of files on it that looked important. Something to do with new immigrants and small business grants etc.  Lots of sensitive and personal client information from what I saw while trying to locate a number to call.

I nosed around the correspondence folder to see if I could find a phone number of the owner. Unfortunately the number was not in service. Finally I found a letter with a heading on it that included the name of the company and looked them up in the phone book.

They are picking it up tomorrow. They were beside themselves when they were notified that the girl had lost it and are very grateful to be getting it back.

I wonder if I should hold it for ransom? :sneaky:  :tongue2:

Attached Link: BBC News - missing CDs

what was the country of origin of the immigrants? be cautious if they seek any extra-ordinary further contacts with you, other than to thank you for your help.

Quote - what was the country of origin of the immigrants? be cautious if they seek any extra-ordinary further contacts with you, other than to thank you for your help.

They seem like a decent company according to their website. It's  non-profit and says:

Quote - is a non-profit agency that works to combat poverty and assists in the renewal of Winnipeg's inner city. We do this by helping individuals and groups start small businesses and save money for future goals. We offer business management training and individual consulting, access to micro-enterprise loans, asset building programs, and more.

They are even listed on our Government Website as having received an Economic Development Partnership Agreement with the Government.

Quote - A few weeks ago I found a flash drive in my building. I was on my way out and put it into my purse and promptly forgot about it. I found it today and decided to see if anything was on it that identified the owner.

Err, unless you have a non-Windows operating system to view it with, I wouldn't stick someone else's geek stick into any Windows-based computer  that I owned if I were you...

Many companies hire folks to do penetration and security testing on their systems... and a common trick (by both testers and hacker types) is to leave a geek stick laying around where employees can get at it. Windows, being the most common OS, is the most targeted.

It only takes a quick jack-in to compromise your computer that way.

/P

Quote - Err, unless you have a non-Windows operating system to view it with, I wouldn't stick someone else's geek stick into any Windows-based computer  that I owned if I were you...

Too late. But I'll remember that for next time. Thanks for the tip :)

In this case the flash drive appears to be legit.  It was lost in my apartment  building, which is where I found it. Apparently the girl who lost it lives in the same building.  So I'm not concerned about hackers. 

Way t go Linda...real good attitude...very Canadian.. ...

Quote - Way t go Linda...real good attitude...very Canadian.. ...

Thanks :)

It was an 8 gig drive and had over 3 gigs of content on it.  I know some would have just erased it and considered it theirs, but I couldn't in good conscience do that.  I know it sounds dumb but I kept apologizing to the company and the girl when she picked it up, for having had to look in the files given the sensitive nature of the files. But it was the only way I could find the owner.

Dont apologize. If the files were not encrypted at all, they are just asking for them to ne nicked.

I dislike the last attitude expressed.  Just becuse a thing may be "asking to be nicked" doesn't mean that we should read it.  However, in this case, I don't see how you had any choice, if you were going to find the owner's identity.  Good for you for returning it and good for you for apologizing for having to read private information.  Both were the correct thing to do.  

Jeremy