Secret Flash Drive Inside an USB Cable

by MatiasMamo in Circuits > USB

26602 Views, 299 Favorites, 0 Comments

Secret Flash Drive Inside an USB Cable

5554d4e867400c20650000d9.jpeg
IMG_20150514_182631.jpg

How do you hide something that you use frequently? I mean, if you hide a flash drive by burying it in your backyard, surely none will find it, but it's also difficult for you to use it!

I thing that the best hiding place is where none will find what you hide, but you can access it easily.

So I came up with this idea: let's hide a flash drive inside an USB cabe. I would never find an USB hidden this way! Until now. But it would be difficult anyway.

Let's start!

Choosing the Cable and the Drive

IMG_20150510_192134.jpg
IMG_20150510_192150.jpg
IMG_20150510_200203.jpg
IMG_20150510_194543.jpg

You have to find a not-so-used USB cable. This is very important because otherwise your secret flash drive can be found by accident!

For example, I can't even remember what was used for the cable you can see in the pictures. I found it in a forgotten-box and I'm pretty sure none is gonna use it.

The flash drive has to be little enough to fit inside the USB connector. I had this very tiny HP 4GB flash drive that is perfect for this project.

Disassembling the Flash Drive

IMG_20150510_194640.jpg
IMG_20150510_194707.jpg
IMG_20150510_194810.jpg
IMG_20150510_194840.jpg

That's easier to do than to say, at least in my case.

Anyway, do it with patience, since if you break it, there's no way back. Try not to scratch the electrical contacts (or at least not too much).

Disassembling the Connector

IMG_20150510_192306.jpg
IMG_20150510_192310.jpg
IMG_20150510_192434.jpg
IMG_20150510_192702.jpg
IMG_20150510_192640.jpg
IMG_20150510_192927.jpg

This is a little more tricky. As a method, after a couple of hours of philosophical reflection, I choose the so called "brute force" method.

  1. Use a flat screw driver to detach the white part (with contacts) from the metal part
  2. With the same method, detach the metal part from the plastic body of the connector
  3. With the pliers, remove the metal part
  4. With the same precision tool (big pliers) remove the white part from inside the connector. This wasn't easy for me and the plastic thing didn't came out as a single piece.

Preparing the Connector

IMG_20150510_193326.jpg
IMG_20150510_193544.jpg
IMG_20150510_194159.jpg

Once you removed all the parts, you will notice that the flash drive still doesn't fit inside the connector.

So for making more room, I used a rotary tool whit a drill bit. Be careful not to pass through the plastic!

You can test if you reached the correct depth by simply putting the drive inside the connector.

Mounting and Final Touches

IMG_20150510_195253.jpg
IMG_20150510_200112.jpg
IMG_20150510_200120.jpg
Now simply put the metal part back inside the connector and glue it with some superglue. Then, mount the flash drive inside of it and you are done!

Now, if you don't want to take any risks, you can also encrypt the flash drive. So, even if someone accidentally finds it, he wont be able to read it's content.

I think this method is perfect for your office or workplace!

Hope you enjoy