The ‘USB to Ego’ Attack

A brief backstory first, to set up the attack.

I arrived at the end of Honda’s FCEV launch, extra unfortunately, because there was water involved, a simulated rainstorm, rare. Like the guy mopping up said, “ya you missed a good one”.

It was in celebration of their latest invention – hydrogen fuel cell technology. Don’t know much about it, you know how I feel about Hybrids, points to Honda for being so bold in their design (coming 2015)…

….but this is a security post, so!

I was taking the below photo, the crowd was starting to thin, and a well-dressed gentleman appeared to my left.

“Hi Keri, here’s the USB key with photos and the presentation, have a good show”. We smiled at one another, he left, I went back to photo-ing.

It wasn’t until later that it hit me, it was so perfect a moment, maybe too perfect.

The Attack:

At a busy event, it’s normal to see a face once and never again, if you notice many faces at all, because cars.

Then an “executive” appears all full of flattery… “hello, I am noticing you, you are a name, so it’s important that you get this information, because you and your opinion matter”… take this USB key, put it into you computer… pretty good right?!

Appear, praise the ego > give a USB key > melt away >
wait a few hours >access target’s computer

NOTE: I’m not at all saying this is what occurred, just that it’s in the realm of possibility (Honda and I know one-another a long time (and if this is the case, USB guy: please LinkedIn me.))

The Defence: 

Never use a USB key you find laying around in public, or from a source you don’t totally trust.

 

 

 

Around the Track with Alex Tagliani

It’s a 2013 Honda Civic HFP.

(Honda Factory Performance: tuned out of the box, limited edition) Honda.ca

Non-car nerdsAlex Tagliani is one of Canada’s most beloved racers.

He blew up in 90s, and has been killing it since. He races for Honda in the IndyCar series.

He wouldn’t remember, but we met last year. I arrived at Honda HQ to pick up a Fit, and accidentally walked into a meet & greet.

Also from that day.

Nice.  (so nice, might give this photo its own post).

Filmed two days before the Indy, at the second annual ‘Honda Manual School’.  Here’s a couple more videos from that day.

 

 

#LoveTheJourney with CARSTAR

CARSTAR is a national franchise auto body repair shop, “where accidents unhappen“.  We met last year at a charity event.

Now that I’ve pointed out their logo, you’re going to start seeing it everywhere, because they are (I was :O here’s their location list; it’s pretty pervasive).

Right now, CARSTAR is giving away a fancy trip in Canada.

If you’re like me and emotionally attached to your car (I should’ve crushed my Jetta last year, can’t), tell CARSTAR why you are, why you #LoveTheJourney and that’s it, you’re entered.

Contest details:

When – August 6 – October 1, 2013

How – tell them why you #LoveTheJourney, enter on their Facebook page

Grand Prize – a #LoveTheJourney prize pack of a trip for 2 to an ultimate Canadian journey of your choice.

Options include:

– the Thrill Seeker Journey of a trip to Whistler for skiing/snowboarding and a drive of the rockies
– the Hopeless Romantic journey to beautiful and historic Quebec City
– the Arts & Culture lover journey to Toronto for entertainment and nightlife
– the Outdoorsman trip to the beautiful Cabot Trail & Cape Breton Highlands in Nova Scotia

Need inspiration? Watch their TV ad

Good luck!

Fellow car-nerds: the car in the video is a 2013 Honda Accord HFP (HFP = Honda Factory Performance, as in, tuned out-of-the-box). The revving audio at the start is sub-par, because the noise cancelling is great.

It’s a 3.5-litre engine outputting 278hp & 252 lb-ft torque & a 6-spd. – $38,290 and only 240 in Canada

Links from the video:

– the day my Jetta broke down – here
– the day I got the Lincoln MKX – here
– the auto-cross driving video – here
– all my ‘Keri on Driving’ columns for Sun Media – here

The intro to ‘The Canadian Explorer’ – Ep. 1/80, 2007-10 – Let’s Celebrate Canada

Here’s the site: TheCanadianExplorer.com.

It’s a mega-mess; I have trouble finding anything, and I own it.

(this post has been brought to you by CARSTAR)

I Want to Try this Car

It’s a Honda S2000. 250-ish hp & torque, manual only and… RWD!

1999-2009. Loved by auto enthusiasts.

Non-car nerds: it may remind you of a Miata, this is the cooler one.