Cybersecurity Gifts
In the world of cybersecurity, gifts are no longer just tokens of appreciation, they can be weapons. Whether it’s a free conference giveaway, a corporate souvenir, or a diplomatic present, physical items can serve as Trojan Horses: seemingly benign objects that hide malicious hardware capable of breaching secure systems. These cybersecurity gifts pose a subtle yet serious risk, especially as attackers evolve beyond software-based tactics to target the physical layer.
A Spy in a Tea Cup
Sepio’s CMO and co-founder, Bentsi Ben-Atar, joined i24 News to discuss the Israeli Security Agency’s investigation into suspicious travel mugs gifted by the Chinese embassy to Israeli government offices.
Israel’s internal security service began an investigation after a routine security check revealed that one of the travel mugs gifted by the Chinese embassy contained a suspicious component. However, upon further examination, it was determined that the parts were harmless. While this particular case did not involve espionage, it highlights a real-world threat: Cybersecurity gifts and other seemingly benign items have historically been used as tools for espionage, enabling attackers to gain access to sensitive information.
The Trojan Horse Reimagined: Hardware-Based Attacks
Although no foul play was confirmed in this particular case, it underscores the growing threat of hardware-based attacks. Much like the legendary Trojan Horse, modern attackers use Cybersecurity Gifts and physical objects to bypass perimeter defenses and gain internal access.
In the interview, Bentsi BenAtar explains how seemingly innocuous hardware, USB drives, peripherals, or embedded components, can carry covert payloads. These rogue devices can compromise confidential data, disrupt operations, or establish persistent access for future attacks.
Sepio’s Defense Against Hidden Hardware Threats
Sepio provides unmatched visibility into all hardware assets, IT, OT, IoT, and peripherals, by analyzing data at the physical layer. Unlike traditional solutions that rely on behavioral analysis, Sepio’s patented technology identifies every device’s unique Asset DNA, even if it lacks identifiers or mimics legitimate behavior.
The platform assigns each asset a dynamic risk score, helping security teams prioritize threats and take action before issues escalate. With real-time monitoring and machine learning, Sepio detects changes instantly and enhances response accuracy using business context and external threat intelligence.
Through granular policy enforcement, Sepio automatically blocks unauthorized or high-risk devices, including those that arrive in the form of Cybersecurity Gifts, using integrations with existing security tools. Its trafficless, scalable architecture ensures seamless deployment with minimal overhead, enabling organizations to strengthen hardware cybersecurity without disrupting operations.
See Sepio in Action
Discover how Sepio can protect your organization from hidden hardware threats and malicious devices. Schedule your personalized demo today.
