'Want the files in a USB? Okay': Boss insists teacher hands in her reports using a USB, she maliciously complies

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jan 31, 2024 4:00 PM EST

Every employer has a particular way of doing things, but sometimes their rationale is so illogical that complying becomes nearly impossible. This can be especially true if their methods are only beneficial to them and no one else. To make matters worse, when bosses tend to do this, they also tend to mask their selfish needs as something beneficial to everyone, but little do they know, we all can see right through that nonsense.

This teacher was pressured by the head of their department to deliver their reports via a USB drive because evidently, that would be more "secure." As many folks pointed out in the comments section, that idea is false. Email should be perfectly fine. But of course, this boss was insistent, and it was difficult for the Redditor considering their laptop was not compatible with most USB drives. Keep scrolling below to see how the teacher managed to get away with a little malicious compliance. 

For more stories like this, check out this post about someone who was fired two hours into his first day on the job.

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  • 01
    "It would be easier if I just email you the files..." to
    via Brina Blum
  • 02
    Posted by u/KaitouStarlight 2 days ago r/r/MaliciousCompliance Want the files in an USB? Okay. S OC First post here, so apologies for any mistakes. This is not my story, but rather a relative's.
    via u/KaitouStarlight
  • 03
    She's a teacher, and it was the end of a semester, so she had to turn in some reports to her head of department. For some reason, the head of department guy (let's call him H) wanted the reports to be turned in by submitting an USB to his desk. "Security reasons" he said. Well, she used a Macbook for work, and it doesn't have any USB ports, so it's really inconvenient for her to transfer files via USB. Still, H insisted her to bring an USB containing the relevant files and reports to his office.
    via u/KaitouStarlight
  • 04
    So, she brought her Macbook and an USB to his office. She showed him the lack of USB ports on her device. "It would be easier if I just email you the files, since I cannot plug an USB into my laptop," she told him. Yet H still insisted, "Sending files via email isn't secure enough, can't you find a way to get your files on the USB?"
    via u/KaitouStarlight
  • 05
    Cue malicious compliance. "Okay, let me borrow your computer, H." He lent her his device, which has USB ports. She emailed the file to him, downloaded the file to his device, plugged her USB in, then put the file into her USB. "Here's your USB with the report, sir," she said after working silently for a while. Why try to explain when he refused to listen and you can just prove your point with action, right?
    via u/KaitouStarlight
  • 06
    H got the USB, plugged it into his computer, and then realized what she borrowed his computer for. "You might as well just send me the file, why go through the loop?" He asked her, to which she replied, perfectly serious. "You told me to get my reports in the USB. So I did."
    via u/KaitouStarlight
  • 07
    Anyways, after that incident, another teacher (who had a similar name to my relative's and H kept mixing up the two teachers) submitted her reports, and the poor lady got an earful on how to properly use an USB to transfer files, blah blah. H was salty but couldn't say anything because, well, she was just following his instructions :).
    via u/KaitouStarlight
  • 08
    SLJ7 2 days ago Very silly on H's part, but of course MacBooks have USB, it's just a newer type. You can and should get adapters to plug old devices into them. They're like $2. 320 Reply Share
    via u/KaitouStarlight
  • 09
    Awzold 2 days ago They also make USB drives that are Type C now. I have one that I can use on my MacBook and my iPad. 4 125 Reply Share
    via u/KaitouStarlight
  • 10
    Kallaxbandit 2 days ago . she used a Macbook for work, and it doesn't have any USB ports, Go on...which MacBook has no usb ports? 72 Reply Share
    via u/KaitouStarlight
  • 11
    GanzGanzGenau42. 2 days ago For some reason... That's for privacy reasons, especially if the report contained sensitive data. An email can be stolen way too easy by thrid parties. Hence, you either need to at least encrypt the email, encrypt the attachment or don't use email at all. Even though not perfect, a USB stick was a far better alternative than an unencrypted email. Reply Share 58
    via u/KaitouStarlight
  • 12
    PAL720576 2 days ago If your laptop only has USB type C. Wouldn't you also buy a USB C to A adaptor? 54 Reply Share
    via u/KaitouStarlight
  • 13
    Future-Crazy-CatLady. 2 days ago This is not MC at all. H said "Sending files via email isn't secure enough, can't you find a way to get your files on the USB?" So his instruction to her was not "use USB by any means possible" (in which case this would have been MC), it was "Do NOT use email, use USB" - and she simply bluntly violated the first part of that because she was too stupid to know that her computer DOES have USB and she just needs an adapter.
    via u/KaitouStarlight
  • 14
    razordenys 2 days ago Emailing sensitive information? Unfortunately he was kind of right. While there should have been better solutions than forcing USB Sticks.
    via u/KaitouStarlight
  • 15
    bi_polar2bear 2 days ago Meanwhile, IT is screaming for using USB's because they are unsecured and shouldn't be used.
    via u/KaitouStarlight
  • 16
    Rudolph Diesel. 2 days ago I would have given him a Mac formatted USB drive, and when he complains plugged it into my Mac to show its all A-OK. Must be his device.
    via u/KaitouStarlight
  • 17
    Zoreb1 2 days ago Worked for the gov't and we couldn't attached a USB (flash drive) to a gov't computer due to virus risk (unless it was from our own storage). Email was preferred.
    via u/KaitouStarlight

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school malicious compliance email malicious-compliance-reddit teacher entitled reddit thread Reddit malicious compliance reddit funny entitled people USB
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