Track USB Drive: Is it Possible?

G5 Cyber Security

2 weeks ago

TL;DR

Yes, a USB drive can be tracked, but not easily and often requires pre-planning. Standard USB drives don’t have built-in tracking. Methods involve software installation before use, or forensic analysis after discovery. Tracking relies on logging activity on computers the drive is used with.

How to Track a USB Drive

Pre-Installation Software (Best Method)
- Several commercial and free tools allow you to monitor USB device usage. These typically work by installing software on the target computer(s).
- Examples include: USBDriveLog, DeviceTrack, or specialized endpoint security solutions.
- How it works: The software logs details like serial number, date/time of connection, username (if logged in), and sometimes even file access information when the USB drive is plugged into a monitored computer.
USB Drive Serial Number Logging
- Every USB drive has a unique serial number. If you know this, you can search system logs for its appearance.
- Windows: Use Event Viewer.
```
eventvwr.msc
```
  Navigate to Windows Logs > System and filter for events with the USB drive’s serial number in the description. Look for event IDs related to disk connections (e.g., Disk, Volume).
- macOS: Use Console app.
```
/Applications/Utilities/Console.app
```
  Search for the USB drive’s serial number in the system logs.
- Linux: Check dmesg output or system logs (usually in /var/log/).
```
dmesg | grep 'USB Serial Number'
```
File-Based Tracking (Limited)
- If you place specific files on the USB drive, you can track their access. This isn’t reliable as files can be copied or deleted.
- Consider using a file monitoring tool on the target computer to detect when those specific files are opened/modified.
Forensic Analysis (Post-Discovery)
- If you’ve found the USB drive, forensic software can examine its metadata and file system for clues about usage history.
```
Autopsy, FTK Imager
```
- This requires specialized skills and tools.

Limitations & Considerations

Software Must Be Installed Beforehand: The most effective tracking methods require software to be installed on the computer before the USB drive is used. You can’t retroactively track a drive without prior setup.
User Awareness: Users may notice monitoring software, especially if it displays notifications or affects performance.
Data Privacy: Be aware of data privacy regulations and legal implications before tracking anyone’s USB usage.
Serial Number Spoofing: It’s technically possible (though uncommon) to change a USB drive’s serial number, making it harder to identify.
Encryption: If the USB drive is encrypted, accessing its contents and tracking file access becomes significantly more difficult without the encryption key.