IT Security Tip: Don't Use Hardware You Find in a Parking Lot

From an Healthcare IT News article on ransomeware attacks on hospitals:

"Department of Homeland Security officials recently conducted a test in which DHS staffers dropped computer disks and flash drives in government buildings and contractor parking lots to see how many would subsequently be used," [Bill Carey, vice president of Marketing at GoodSync] said. "Sixty percent that were picked up were plugged into office computers, and the installation rate rose to 90 percent for disks and drives bearing an official logo. The test revealed a huge security vulnerability."

Security tip: If you find hardware in a parking lot or in the street, don't plug it in.

You probably wouldn't eat a sandwich you find on a park bench. Apply the same caution with IT equipment of unknown provenance.