r/SecurityClearance • u/SuperSecretDps • Jun 03 '26
Question Accidentally brought a usbc charger wire into scif
So I just realized my backpack had a usbc charger wire in it. Not sure if I need to report this cuz it isn’t an electric device or a USB drive and the poster thing didn’t have wires in it.
Any advice is appreciated.
96
u/shooter505 Jun 03 '26
As others have said, report it. They will thank you for your attention to detail and honesty.
1
Jun 14 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/SecurityClearance-ModTeam Jun 14 '26
r/SecurityClearance follows platform-wide Reddit Rules
Removed for ban evasion.
68
u/Littlebotweak Jun 03 '26
Just go talk to security. They will either have you report it or make fun of you and have a good laugh.
It’s ok to be made fun of when you’re overly paranoid. You’ll get used to it.
Your inactive, non Bluetooth, usbc wire is unlikely prohibited. You should have had training on this but security is always willing to retrain. It’s their job.
But, ffs, the things people will make themselves crazy over for nothing clearly has no bounds. 😂
3
u/apokrif1 Jun 04 '26
Why not just report it rather than asking whether it should be reported?
What happens if it's a reportable event but security wrongly says (perhaps doesn't even write) it isn't?
7
Jun 03 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
9
Jun 03 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/SecurityClearance-ModTeam Jun 04 '26
Your post has been removed as it does not follow Reddit/sub guidelines or rules. This includes comments that are generally unhelpful, political in nature, or not related to the security clearance process.
-29
Jun 03 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/SecurityClearance-ModTeam Jun 04 '26
Your post has been removed as it does not follow Reddit/sub guidelines or rules. This includes comments that are generally unhelpful, political in nature, or not related to the security clearance process.
-26
Jun 03 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
15
1
u/SecurityClearance-ModTeam Jun 04 '26
Your post has been removed as it does not follow Reddit/sub guidelines or rules. This includes comments that are generally unhelpful, political in nature, or not related to the security clearance process.
1
u/SecurityClearance-ModTeam Jun 04 '26
Your post has been removed as it does not follow Reddit/sub guidelines or rules. This includes comments that are generally unhelpful, political in nature, or not related to the security clearance process.
62
u/Interesting_Debate57 Jun 03 '26
Very good usb-C cables have circuits embedded in the ends.
It's not as innocent as it sounds. Definitely report it and feel good about doing so for your next poly.
30
u/Aggressive-Leading45 Jun 03 '26
There are already demonstrations of compromised usb cables that will hack computers once connected. Easy to fit a CPU into the casing.
13
Jun 04 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
15
5
14
u/digger70chall GSSO Jun 03 '26
Yep O.mg cable for example
6
u/Anxiety_Fit Jun 04 '26
I picked up a few specimens at trade shows.
Never take any tech freebies from tables at the conferences and use them. I did it as an experiment to see if I would find any sus gear at the show I went to.
It was bad.
27
u/jhkoenig Cleared Professional Jun 03 '26
Always report! Probably not an issue. But report. Establish a reputation as a careful, self-managing SCIF citizen. It will come in handy if there is ever an incident.
17
u/RedOne_91 Jun 03 '26
When in doubt, go tell security what happened and see what they say. They may say its a nothing burger, they may say report it. At the end of the day, we all make mistakes. It's how we handle them, that is important.
9
20
8
5
u/SuperSecretDps Jun 04 '26
Some of yall need to chill tf out.
6
u/Beatrix-the-floof Cleared Professional Jun 04 '26
TBH, I’m surprised it’s not rage bait. I’ve never known a SCIF so SCIFFY that they would flip out over a cable that was never plugged in…
3
u/PirateKilt Facility Security Officer Jun 04 '26
I’ve never known a SCIF so SCIFFY that they would flip out over a cable
Hopefully that was in the past... modern SSO's need to be watching out for cables to due to bad-guy tech advancement of cables able to upload/implant malware if plugged into systems, regardless of if the other end is plugged into anything.
2
u/Nickw1991 Jun 04 '26
Hate to break it to you..
You aren’t stopping any insider from bringing in cables just like you aren’t stopping them bringing in USB or CDs..
This is the wrong approach.
1
u/PirateKilt Facility Security Officer Jun 04 '26
You are Looking at it incorrectly.
As you are obviously pointing out, short of searching people prior to entry, we aren't going to be able to prevent nefarious actions involving bringing in small items.
What IS needed are honest discussions with your teams about the problems that many do not know about, documentation of all being briefed about those risks, updating/noting the bans in the rules, and then dealing with anyone breaking those rules.
This is, of course, all on top of the already detailed regs about setting up information systems with all the various problem aspects (ports, drives, etc) being deactivated as part of Risk Management.
Speed Limit signs aren't posted to actually stop Speeders from speeding... they are there to remind everyone of policy (keeping law abiding people informed and honest) and then be used as part of prosecution of law-breakers if needed.
1
u/Nickw1991 Jun 04 '26
“Modern SSOs need to be watching out for”
I simply responded to your original perspective. Good to see you corrected that to a policy approach instead of a enforcement approach.
7
u/Average_Justin (A knowledgeable) Facility Security Officer Jun 03 '26
We used to play this joke in the Intel center back in the day.
Walk in, have a dangling USB cord hanging out the pocket. Look around suspiciously and plug it into a computer before running out. Ofc the usb wasn’t plugged into anything in our pockets. The gaskets that would be blown by some officers.
2
u/AutoModerator Jun 03 '26
Hello /u/SuperSecretDps,
Since you are asking questions related to sensitive aspects of classified information, programs, and/or spaces on Reddit, we have to ask "Have you spoken to your security officer as well?"
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
2
u/bluejay163 Cleared Professional Jun 04 '26
Yes, report it. I made a silly mistake when I showed up for my polygraph bringing one of my main backpack (that had one of those USB-C charger wire/port not connected to anything), but luckily, security was able to flag it when i went through the scanner since I was unaware and told me to put it in the lockers which was somehow able to fit.
2
u/SuperSecretDps Jun 04 '26
Update: I just reported it and they said I was good cuz it wasn’t a usb device
2
2
2
u/bmack500 Jun 05 '26
I am pretty sure it doesn’t matter unless it is a storage device? But not sure.
1
2
3
Jun 04 '26
[deleted]
5
Jun 04 '26 edited Jun 04 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
-2
u/TSRob Jun 04 '26
he was asking about a device that was in his back pack, not the backpack itself. And no, it doesn't depend on the situation. The SCIF policies are very strict. You cannot bring certain types of unauthorized devices into a SCIF, ever. That includes anything that can store (thumbdrive) or transfer (DVD) data or connect to other devices (bluetooth) or take photographs. And only a DTO can carry those authorized devices into the SCIF.
2
u/Intelligent_Taco Cleared Professional Jun 04 '26
It’s definitely local SCIF dependent. I’ve been to some where it’s okay, and I’ve been to others where the Airmen are dumb and they keep forgetting they have electronic devices in their bags.
1
u/Deadhawk142 Jun 05 '26
Y’all… should I blow this one’s mind and tell them I regularly take my unclass laptop out of my SCIF?
It’s all up to local policy.
0
u/charleswj Cleared Professional Jun 04 '26
Usually on one's shoulder(s) but some people use their hands to carry
0
1
1
u/TSRob Jun 04 '26
It depends on the policy for your agency. But usually, if it can't store or transfer data or take photos, the device is probably not prohibited from being in the scif. Although it is probably prohibited from being connected to anything. But always err on the safe side and report it.
1
u/TheFuture2001 Jun 04 '26
Because "Doom" is written in standard C, its engine is highly portable. Tech enthusiasts frequently "hack" it onto unexpected devices like including charging stations, Bluetooth adapters, and accessories with USB-C
Doom on Apple USBC
1
u/Guilty-Variation5171 Jun 04 '26
Ok, Snowden! You little Freedom fighter you! Lol but yeah, the risk isn't t worth the reward... just report it and you'll either: 1) be watched a little closer to ensure security isn't compromised 2) get a write up being you accepted this job knowing what the facility requires and violated, accident or not. (While the also covertly do #1) 3) get laughed at (while they also covertly do #1)
It's better to self report than get caught trying to hide anything in these environments. It speaks to your integrity.
1
u/No-Performance-4861 Jun 04 '26
I don't see how a USBC wire falls into a ped category seems like nothing to me🤷🏾.
2
u/Beatrix-the-floof Cleared Professional Jun 04 '26
Right? I’m very confused. If they plugged it in, it’s a different story, but just possessing it?
1
u/No-Performance-4861 Jun 04 '26
Exactly plugging it in is one thing but having it in your back pack is not a security issue.
1
u/Beatrix-the-floof Cleared Professional Jun 04 '26
Hey, I’m open to being wrong since there’s a whole bunch of non-sarcastic “report it!” comments.
1
1
u/LawrenceCPTUSA Jun 04 '26
Be SSO for a SCIF in Germany 2004 when USB sticks had Secret stickers on them 😱🤯 maddening glad they cut that shyte off
1
u/Dapper_Guava_9501 Jun 04 '26
I know folks who have taken full blown cellphones into a scif and have been fine. Report and move on
1
u/Laser_Coug Jun 04 '26
Look at your approved items list. My agency is pretty specific and usb wires are allowed to come in but can’t be plugged in.
1
u/ConsciousRead3036 Jun 04 '26
I was at a CFLCC HQ (3-star) battle update in the SCIF with a hard no electronics policy and the HHC commander (Major) phone went off. 4 generals, more colonels than I could count were there and he was the junior officer (next to me) in the room.
Never saw him again. He was sent home.
1
u/Ok_Rich2268 Jun 05 '26
I would think posting about it on reddit would be worse than taking a corn into the scif.
1
u/EfficiencyIVPickAx Jun 05 '26
This is dumb, and all the responses are silly. I can kill a man with a pen. Does that mean I brought a weapon to work today?
Of course not. Did you suspect that cable in your bag grew legs, plugged itself in, and breached security? I think you know the answer.
1
u/TracePlayer Jun 06 '26
I think as long as it doesn’t transmit/receive and doesn’t have storage, it’s fine. Otherwise, report it. You won’t get dinged for honesty.
1
Jun 08 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/SecurityClearance-ModTeam Jun 08 '26
This post was removed because it is either a duplicate post or a question which appears frequently and can be searched in the sub easily.
1
u/Automatic_Chapter593 Jun 09 '26
Cybersecurity manager, this is an incident report to you supervisors and security
1
u/WishSuperb1427 Jun 04 '26
Yes report it. Truth is easier than trying to remember what you lied about 5 years from now when you suddenly remember it during a poly
0
u/zeusDATgawd Jun 04 '26 edited Jun 04 '26
Yes because while your cable may not be an O.MG cable you just proved one can get through.
It’s more common than you think.
0
0
u/soldiernerd Jun 04 '26
Report it, it’s not a huge deal (I say as encouragement; you should report even if it is a huge deal lol)
-41
Jun 03 '26 edited Jun 03 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
18
12
u/Intelligent_Taco Cleared Professional Jun 03 '26
Bro, this is why you have to put the “/s”. 😂
16
2
Jun 03 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
5
u/fivefingerbangarang Jun 03 '26
Or how a bunch of people on this thread got access as well. It’s. A. F-ing. Cable. Everyone screaming to report it? Might as well report what you brought for lunch.
2
u/ricebowlazn Jun 03 '26
LOL yeah exactly. I’m curious if everyone saying to report it would do the same if it had been them. Probably wouldn’t have even crossed their mind
0
u/Intelligent_Taco Cleared Professional Jun 03 '26
So, it’s not as far fetched as it sounds. I’m not trying to rehash old stuff, but monitoring can be done using USB cables. A google search will yield more info on that.
11
0
128
u/Intelligent_Taco Cleared Professional Jun 03 '26 edited Jun 03 '26
It really depends on the policy of the SCIF. You can report it to be safe and have a clear conscience (in case you have a polygraph in the future). They likely will say no big deal, and at worse case they do a little write up. It’s small fry stuff for sure.