McAfee reported a rapid growth of malware for the first half of 2010. Telstra handed out free USBs with AutoRun malware at a security conference in 2008. IBM had to own up to all AusCERT security conference attendees that IBM’s complimentary USB drives had also included two free extras in the form of malware. The Pentagon went as far as banning USBs in 2008, before lifting the thumb-drive ban for U.S. military troops in 2009. It is suggested to password protect and encrypt your USB.”]
Source: https://www.computerworld.com/article/2468933/ironic-malware-infected-usb-security-blunders.html