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What do you think of this idea?


harrisale

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Kinda a crazy idea but may work.

 

We would sell to people a USB Drive to put into geocaches. On these drives, you can upload a sort of virtual toy or virtual sig item (ie. sort sort of picture of you, your logo, or a poem in a .txt, etc). These would obviously get pass from cache to cache, accumlating files along the way.

 

There could also possibly be some way of putting a tracking number on it aswell, such as in a txt file in the drive name, or engraved on the USB key itself.

 

tell me your thoughts, ideas, etc

 

thanx

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Kinda a crazy idea but may work.

 

We would sell to people a USB Drive to put into geocaches. On these drives, you can upload a sort of virtual toy or virtual sig item (ie. sort sort of picture of you, your logo, or a poem in a .txt, etc). These would obviously get pass from cache to cache, accumlating files along the way.

 

There could also possibly be some way of putting a tracking number on it aswell, such as in a txt file in the drive name, or engraved on the USB key itself.

 

tell me your thoughts, ideas, etc

 

thanx

 

I have moved several USB drives with TB tags attached. I usually put every picture that is listed on my Nude Cacher locationless terracache on them as I find them.

 

Like so:

 

a345ae3e-9d4b-4e4e-8878-3b2bd67fef6d.jpg

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I don't think the average person will want to open that usb drive on their computer.

 

I'm pretty average and, yep, I wouldn't.

 

In fact, in the several instances I've found CD's or drives I just leave them alone or move them on without touching a computer.

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I'd open it, there are tons of viruses and spyware that live on the internet, yet we are using that. You can always scan it before opening it's contents.

 

A Jump drive TB was dropped on one of my caches, and I couldn't get there fast enough before someone already picked it up. I thoughit was a cool idea.

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I'd probably give the drive a check. However, this is purely because I run Linux, and feel relatively comfortable about not getting a virus from something being passed around in general. Anything on that system would be more meant to actually run or install on a Windows computer. Safe bet it wouldn't have a clue what to do in Linux :laughing:

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I have moved several USB drives with TB tags attached. I usually put every picture that is listed on my Nude Cacher locationless terracache on them as I find them.

 

Like so:

 

a345ae3e-9d4b-4e4e-8878-3b2bd67fef6d.jpg

 

After seeing that picture. One thing comes to mind. The media you're moving around could have material that is actually banned by the guidelines (porno, religous propaganda, etc). Either you run the risk of infecting your PC to verify it is okay, or you blindy move it on. If I found drives or non-factory CDs in one of my caches in the future, I would toss them. If's it's a TB, why should I have to mail it back to the owner because they implemented a bad idea?

Edited by Acid Rain
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...The media you're moving around could have material that is actually banned by the guidelines (porno, religous propaganda, etc). Either you run the risk of infecting your PC to verify it is okay, or you blindy move it on. If I found drives or non-factory CDs in one of my caches in the future, I would toss them. If's it's a TB, why should I have to mail it back to the owner because they implemented a bad idea?

 

You are exactly backwards in your thinking.

Odds are you don't toss the cache because it could contain things that are against guidlines. Every cache has the potential to containe things that are against the guidelines, against the land managers wishes, and against the desires of the cache owner. It's an occupational hazard. The USB key is no different. Why would you toss a USB key? If you did take the time to look at it, you can just as easily purge it to confirm with guidelines as you could a cache. Since you won't due to the risk of virus, you sould not judge it.

 

Bottom line. You would be dead wrong to throw away that USB key.

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...The media you're moving around could have material that is actually banned by the guidelines (porno, religous propaganda, etc). Either you run the risk of infecting your PC to verify it is okay, or you blindy move it on. If I found drives or non-factory CDs in one of my caches in the future, I would toss them. If's it's a TB, why should I have to mail it back to the owner because they implemented a bad idea?

 

You are exactly backwards in your thinking.

Odds are you don't toss the cache because it could contain things that are against guidlines. Every cache has the potential to containe things that are against the guidelines, against the land managers wishes, and against the desires of the cache owner. It's an occupational hazard. The USB key is no different. Why would you toss a USB key? If you did take the time to look at it, you can just as easily purge it to confirm with guidelines as you could a cache. Since you won't due to the risk of virus, you sould not judge it.

 

Bottom line. You would be dead wrong to throw away that USB key.

 

I gotta agree with RN here. If you don't like the TB, don't take it from the cache.

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I like them. I have moved them and may put one out.

 

I have moved two that required pictures to be added and one that you wrote a short geocaching story for.

 

WARNING!

Despite assurances above, you can in fact get undetected spyware from any file, not just executables!

 

RemoteSpy is but one example of a really nasty application that can embed spyware into an IM, email, text or image (.jpg) (in fact ANY) file.

 

If someone embeds RemoteSpy into a file and you open it you will never know it; your anti-virus or internet security software won't see it, your firewall won't block it, (they can't - it's a legal commercial product!) and the bast... uh, vermin that sent it to you can read every IM, Chat, Email, see every application you open - in fact see every keystroke you type, over the internet, and you will never know it!

 

Even working offline won't help - it builds a local cache(!) of info and transmits it when you next connect to the net.

 

There are some detection and removal instructions on that site, and EVERYONE should learn and use them!

 

Fortunately it's expensive and hasn't caught on in popularity among the general public, but I know for a fact that some geocachers use it!

 

Unfortunately that is just one of several sneaky apps that can do the same thing.

 

Fortunately it isn't like a virus that spreads, or malware that harms your computer - it is pure spyware and you have to be the direct target or the first person to open the file for it to install itself on your PC.

 

While it applies directly to the topic of traveling media - home-made CD and DVDs, hard drives and memory cards, this warning should be heeded by all PC users as standard practice, so I don't see the danger being all that much higher in this particular instance.

 

As long as you connect to the internet you are not and cannot be safe - keep all personal info offline, change passwords regularly, set a scheduled weekly System Restore point, back up all data to CD or DVD regularly and educate yourself about such threats and you should be able to work with any media safely, including these traveling memories.

 

Of course, not one user in ten thousand does all that, so if you are one of the 9,999 who won't just assume that anything on your PC is public!

 

Ed

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...The media you're moving around could have material that is actually banned by the guidelines (porno, religous propaganda, etc). Either you run the risk of infecting your PC to verify it is okay, or you blindy move it on. If I found drives or non-factory CDs in one of my caches in the future, I would toss them. If's it's a TB, why should I have to mail it back to the owner because they implemented a bad idea?

 

You are exactly backwards in your thinking.

Odds are you don't toss the cache because it could contain things that are against guidlines. Every cache has the potential to containe things that are against the guidelines, against the land managers wishes, and against the desires of the cache owner. It's an occupational hazard. The USB key is no different. Why would you toss a USB key? If you did take the time to look at it, you can just as easily purge it to confirm with guidelines as you could a cache. Since you won't due to the risk of virus, you sould not judge it.

 

Bottom line. You would be dead wrong to throw away that USB key.

 

I suppose your right. I guess I would rather pass on the black box than open it up.

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I have moved several USB drives with TB tags attached. I usually put every picture that is listed on my Nude Cacher locationless terracache on them as I find them.

 

Like so:

 

a345ae3e-9d4b-4e4e-8878-3b2bd67fef6d.jpg

 

After seeing that picture. One thing comes to mind. The media you're moving around could have material that is actually banned by the guidelines (porno, religous propaganda, etc). Either you run the risk of infecting your PC to verify it is okay, or you blindy move it on. If I found drives or non-factory CDs in one of my caches in the future, I would toss them. If's it's a TB, why should I have to mail it back to the owner because they implemented a bad idea?

 

You probably weren't implying that picture was pornographic, but still.....

 

There's nothing at all pornographic about the photos on my Nude Cacher locationless terracache . All the naughty parts are tastefully obscurred. :):mad:

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GEEZ, SNOOGANS! That picture wasn't supposed to be splattered all over the GC forums!!!! Oh well, that's what I get for posting it, right? See if I ever pose for one of YOUR caches again! :mad::):P:(

Jana

 

You still have the most tasteful and artistic (still) photo on that cache.

 

The fact that I use it to illustrate the concept is a compliment, but you already know that. :):)

Edited by Snoogans
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GEEZ, SNOOGANS! That picture wasn't supposed to be splattered all over the GC forums!!!! Oh well, that's what I get for posting it, right? See if I ever pose for one of YOUR caches again! :(:):):P

Jana

 

I have moved several USB drives with TB tags attached. I usually put every picture that is listed on my Nude Cacher locationless terracache on them as I find them.

 

Plus he's doing this... :mad::)

Edited by Acid Rain
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Yeah, I wasn't saying it was porno, just made me think porno COULD be on any given drive.

 

To illustrate RK's point, I found a Penthouse centerfold in a cache once. I took it without trading for it and made no mention of it in my log. I'm pretty sure that the same would happen to any objectional material found on a USB.

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What do I think?

 

1. It's not a new idea.

2. I don't think that there is a big gap in the market, since you get cheap USB-Sticks everywere.

 

Virus: The risk of getting a virus with an USB drive is minimal compared to the internet. Everybody who is posting here, should have a Virusscan otherwise you will be at risk. There are viruses around now which infect JPG, but still I think that every virus protection software will immediately identify them.

 

The risk of contraband i.e. stuff, which is against the guidlines is not higher than with everything else. Just don't always assume the worst, I don't think the average geocacher puts something nasty on an USB drive as he or she wouldn't place something like that in the cache.

 

So go agead with the USB stick idea. But I would put it in a watertight bag (not just a Ziploc), so the connectors don't corrode.

 

GermanSailor

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The media you're moving around could have material that is actually banned by the guidelines (porno, religous propaganda, etc).

 

Yeah maybe. Or, maybe not. No way to know unless you look at the contents.

 

If I found drives or non-factory CDs in one of my caches in the future, I would toss them. If's it's a TB, why should I have to mail it back to the owner because they implemented a bad idea?

 

Do the rest of the geocaching world a favor - instead of throwing it away, how about you just ignore it?

 

<edited in an effort to be civil>

Edited by VeryLost
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The media you're moving around could have material that is actually banned by the guidelines (porno, religous propaganda, etc).

 

Yeah maybe. Or, maybe not. No way to know unless you look at the contents.

 

If I found drives or non-factory CDs in one of my caches in the future, I would toss them. If's it's a TB, why should I have to mail it back to the owner because they implemented a bad idea?

 

Do the rest of the geocaching world a favor - instead of throwing it away, how about you just ignore it?

 

<edited in an effort to be civil>

 

What the VeryLost one said!

 

You have NO right to destroy that which you don't like!

 

Ed

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The media you're moving around could have material that is actually banned by the guidelines (porno, religous propaganda, etc).

 

Yeah maybe. Or, maybe not. No way to know unless you look at the contents.

 

If I found drives or non-factory CDs in one of my caches in the future, I would toss them. If's it's a TB, why should I have to mail it back to the owner because they implemented a bad idea?

 

Do the rest of the geocaching world a favor - instead of throwing it away, how about you just ignore it?

 

<edited in an effort to be civil>

 

What the VeryLost one said!

 

You have NO right to destroy that which you don't like!

 

Ed

 

Yea, but it's human nature to do so.

 

I don't usually trash religious tracts I find in caches, but I would destroy KKK propaganda.

 

I didn't destroy the centerfold I found. (Heck, she was hot.) It didn't belong in a cache and I removed it without trading for it.

 

If I found drives or non-factory CDs in one of my caches in the future, I would toss them.

 

I will defend their right to do as they please with their own caches, (unless the item in question has a TB tag on it) but I'd be right pi$sed if they did it to mine.

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I don't think any smart person would even consider opening anything on it, and you cannot sell it in this forum.

Most people would probably just move it along, like any other TB. There are a lot of old electronic accessories out there as Travel Bugs. If I found it, I would just move it.

Destroying it is not an option, it's a travel bug, don't open it, just move it.

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I have a question about 'jump' drives (or whatever the name is for them). If the thing got wet inside, would it damage the drive?

What about about if it were wet/damp and got plugged into a computer? Would something short out??

It is going to depend on the drive. The free one I got for buying a computer some time ago went through a wash cycle and came out fine. Maybe we got lucky, but there you have it. We dried it out before putting it in a computer and using it again.

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I have a question about 'jump' drives (or whatever the name is for them). If the thing got wet inside, would it damage the drive?

What about about if it were wet/damp and got plugged into a computer? Would something short out??

 

I had one go through the washer/dryer twice, with no ill effects. I probably wouldn't plug a wet one in to my computer though... (although I don't imagine any permanent damage would be done)

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I like them. I have moved them and may put one out.

 

I have moved two that required pictures to be added and one that you wrote a short geocaching story for.

 

WARNING!

Despite assurances above, you can in fact get undetected spyware from any file, not just executables!

 

RemoteSpy is but one example of a really nasty application that can embed spyware into an IM, email, text or image (.jpg) (in fact ANY) file.

 

Did you read the page you were reffereing to? I was a little surprised by this so I checked out your link.

 

It doesn't look to me like it can be embedded in anything other than an exe file that doesn't do anything.

 

[Question]: What happens when a user clicks on the monitoring .exe?

RemoteSpy is completely stealth and designed to install without warning. Once the executable is clicked the monitoring application will be started instantly. There are no signs or warnings whatsoever.

 

Looks like a run of the mill exe file to me.

 

So it looks like the user needs to run the monitoring .exe file. Sure this could be launched by an autorun file, so that it starts when you insert the CD, but I for one tend to look at the autorun files on CDs I don't completely trust, and as soon as I find it, its pretty easy to edit it in to oblivion.

 

As for AV programs not detecting it, it isn't a virus, so I wouldn't expect them too, and unless its a darn site more sophisticated than I think it is, it shouldn't be that hard to remove (worst case scenario boot to safe mode, and nuke the startup parameters).

 

Sure there have been a few remotely exploitable bugs in JPG interpreters, but those are generally fixed fairly quickly, and I've yet to see a JPG virus go widespread.

 

In general, you only really need to worry about executable code, anything else is just alarmism.

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I guess I have to weigh the possible issues against the actual benefits.

 

I have TBs that you can post pictures, thoughts, poems, whatever. What could any random cacher possible have that I would be willing to open sight unseen? Should I simply open a file and hoping that I won’t get a surprise?

 

If you can’t post it online I’m not interested in opening it up on my PC.

 

Thanks.

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Looks like a run of the mill exe file to me.

 

In general, you only really need to worry about executable code, anything else is just alarmism.

 

Some people don't know and .exe from a .jpg, or a .pdf

To some folks, it's all just alphabet soup. Which is why it should be mentioned that they shouldn't open anything if they don't know what it is, or where it came from.

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Many USB drives have a password protection code that you can set. You might think of something like having people email you for the password. Or, when you get notice that someone picked up the bug, you can email them with the code. This will help protect the drive from people putting bad stuff on it.

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I don't think any smart person would even consider opening anything on it, and you cannot sell it in this forum.

Most people would probably just move it along, like any other TB. There are a lot of old electronic accessories out there as Travel Bugs. If I found it, I would just move it.

Destroying it is not an option, it's a travel bug, don't open it, just move it.

I would give a USB Stick a try. Maybe I'm not smart, but maybe I'm smart enough to have Anti Virus Software installed and up to date.

 

GermanSailor

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