# Found "private" SD card... how to return it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 24, 2013, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-private-sd-card-how-to-return-it/648184 "2013-01-24T04:03:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-private-sd-card-how-to-return-it/648184/21 "2013-01-24T15:59:55Z")
> [@Danja](#): > > Yup, thought about it that way too. The thing is, if I lost a card with photographs of me or my girlfriend, I would be frantically worried that someone had found it and decided to share it online. I would live with the constant fear in the back of my mind that someone had distributed the images. I’d feel much better if the card was returned to me; even if I had no guarantee that the images weren’t copied, I’d feel more secure because the person at least had the integrity to return it. > > But I am worried that the person is crazy or paranoid, which is why I plan to return it by mail with no return address. You are trying to think of every excuse you can to stay involved in this. The uncertainty of what happened to the card will be as nothing compared to the reality that someone has accessed the card. A normal person will worry far less about a tiny micro SD getting lost in the shuffle than someone actually having accessed it. All these schemes you are concocting to find the owner and return the card are absurd. Get rid of it. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-private-sd-card-how-to-return-it/648184/22 "2013-01-24T16:01:18Z")
Me, I’d probably just treat the sexyfuntime pictures as if they were pictures of a dog or something: Put up a sign “Lost SD Card.”, and ask for some kind of description to confirm it’s theirs before returning it (either in person or mailing). When they pick it up, let them know, in the mildest way, that you saw some of the pictures, and you’re glad to be able to get them back to the owner. Certainly having your girlfriend around at the time wouldn’t hurt to keep people at ease, especially if it’s a woman picking it up. ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-private-sd-card-how-to-return-it/648184/23 "2013-01-24T16:14:49Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > [Many stories, reliable sources.](http://it.slashdot.org/story/12/07/09/2317239/criminals-distribute-infected-usb-sticks-in-parking-lot) > > [Another.](http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2011/06/yet_another_peo.html) > > [One more.](http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10104496-83.html) Thanks **kayaker** , the first two were the stories I was thinking of. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-private-sd-card-how-to-return-it/648184/24 "2013-01-24T16:14:49Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > Me, I’d probably just treat the sexyfuntime pictures as if they were pictures of a dog or something: Put up a sign “Lost SD Card.”, and ask for some kind of description to confirm it’s theirs before returning it (either in person or mailing). > > When they pick it up, let them know, in the mildest way, that you saw some of the pictures, and you’re glad to be able to get them back to the owner. Certainly having your girlfriend around at the time wouldn’t hurt to keep people at ease, especially if it’s a woman picking it up. Agree with your first paragraph. Not sure about mentioning that you saw it. What good would that do? ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-private-sd-card-how-to-return-it/648184/25 "2013-01-24T17:15:29Z")
> [@astro](#): > > You are trying to think of every excuse you can to stay involved in this. The uncertainty of what happened to the card will be as nothing compared to the reality that someone has accessed the card. A normal person will worry far less about a tiny micro SD getting lost in the shuffle than someone actually having accessed it. All these schemes you are concocting to find the owner and return the card are absurd. Get rid of it. I think it is absurd to throw away someone else’s property when returning it may be simple. In either scenario the card owner and/or naked person can choose to believe the best or the worst about the situation. If you give the card back and they choose to believe the worst, well, at least they got their card back. But by giving it back you also have the opportunity to assuage their fears. Go with #2. Post a sign saying a something was found in the laundry room. Being vague helps insure that the proper owner identifies the card. If someone claims the card you can tell them that it was found in the dryer. They may ask if it still works or if you looked at it and that is your opportunity to say you don’t know if it still works and that you didn’t even know they made cards that small. Whatever you do, don’t wink. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-private-sd-card-how-to-return-it/648184/26 "2013-01-24T20:28:37Z")
Oh for the love of… You guys overthink everything. Send it to me. I’ll see that the owners get it back! ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-private-sd-card-how-to-return-it/648184/27 "2013-01-24T20:31:20Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > [Many stories, reliable sources.](http://it.slashdot.org/story/12/07/09/2317239/criminals-distribute-infected-usb-sticks-in-parking-lot) > > [Another.](http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2011/06/yet_another_peo.html) > > [One more.](http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10104496-83.html) The first is of a failed attack. The second is about a US govt test to see what people would do with a found drive and the third is an article about virus being spread via USB drives (in other news water is wet) One attack does not a common method make. ---
**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-private-sd-card-how-to-return-it/648184/28 "2013-01-24T20:42:02Z")
Certainly “lost” usb drives and memory cards are a common enough way to do a targeted attack. What is less obvious is that any usb device can be used to do the attack, ie: > **[Hackers pierce network with jerry-rigged mouse](https://www.theregister.com/2011/06/27/mission_impossible_mouse_attack/)** > > Mission Impossible meets Logitech Are the pentagon, and several chemical companies “widespread” enough for you ? > **[US plants hit by USB stick malware attack](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21042378)** > > Two power plants in the US suffered from malware attacks in 2012, a security report reveals. [http://www.information-age.com/channels/security-and-continuity/news/1278213/worst-ever-pentagon-cyber-attack-came-from-usb-drive.thtml](http://www.information-age.com/channels/security-and-continuity/news/1278213/worst-ever-pentagon-cyber-attack-came-from-usb-drive.thtml) > **[Criminals push malware by 'losing' USB sticks in parking lots](https://www.zdnet.com/article/criminals-push-malware-by-losing-usb-sticks-in-parking-lots/)** > > Here's a case of corporate espionage you've probably never heard before: infiltrating a corporation by "losing" malware-infected USB sticks in the company's parking lot. Thankfully for this multinational chemicals firm, the attempt failed miserably. [https://ctrlaltnarwhal.wordpress.com/2012/10/31/usb-drives-for-penetration-testing/](https://ctrlaltnarwhal.wordpress.com/2012/10/31/usb-drives-for-penetration-testing/) ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-private-sd-card-how-to-return-it/648184/29 "2013-01-24T20:50:25Z")
The photos on the card may be the key to finding the owner. Digital cameras embed a great deal of information in the files, known as EXIF data. [This](http://regex.info/exif.cgi)is just one of many such tools for accessing that information. It’s possible that the owner programmed owner info, or even copyright info into the camera that is listed in the EXIF data. Give it a try. You only have to test one image on the card, and see what you see. I agree with “not owning an SD card reader” when you return the card. Be a mensch. Let them keep their dignity. Now for the hijack: If you have a digital camera go missing, there are a couple of cool sites that can help you get it back. > **[Stolen Camera Finder](https://www.stolencamerafinder.com/)** > > stolencamerafinder reunites people with lost > or stolen camera equipment by searching the web for > the serial numbers embedded in jpegs. [http://cameratrace.com/](http://cameratrace.com/) They both use the EXIF data to match your serial number with pix on Flicker, Photobucket and the like, as well as other methods. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-private-sd-card-how-to-return-it/648184/30 "2013-01-25T13:15:13Z")
> [@astro](#): > > You are trying to think of every excuse you can to stay involved in this. The uncertainty of what happened to the card will be as nothing compared to the reality that someone has accessed the card. A normal person will worry far less about a tiny micro SD getting lost in the shuffle than someone actually having accessed it. All these schemes you are concocting to find the owner and return the card are absurd. Get rid of it. Yep. Also, WTF would some chick (if chick she be) who has her naked pics on an SD card that you had found, give YOU HER ADDRESS??? ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-private-sd-card-how-to-return-it/648184/31 "2013-01-25T14:45:00Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > The photos on the card may be the key to finding the owner. > Digital cameras embed a great deal of information in the files, known as EXIF data. > > [This](http://regex.info/exif.cgi)is just one of many such tools for accessing that information. It’s possible that the owner programmed owner info, or even copyright info into the camera that is listed in the EXIF data. Give it a try. You only have to test one image on the card, and see what you see. > > I agree with “not owning an SD card reader” when you return the card. Be a mensch. Let them keep their dignity. > > Now for the hijack: If you have a digital camera go missing, there are a couple of cool sites that can help you get it back. > [http://www.stolencamerafinder.com/](http://www.stolencamerafinder.com/) > [http://cameratrace.com/](http://cameratrace.com/) > > They both use the EXIF data to match your serial number with pix on Flicker, Photobucket and the like, as well as other methods. > > Good luck! I think this is good advice but the fact that it’s a micro SD leads me to believe it’s probaby from a phone, not a standalone camera. Do the cameras on phones embed the same info? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-private-sd-card-how-to-return-it/648184/32 "2013-01-25T17:49:23Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > Yep. > > Also, WTF would some chick (if chick she be) who has her naked pics on an SD card that you had found, give YOU HER ADDRESS??? This. A thousand times this. Just throw it away - NO good can come of trying to initiate contact. ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-private-sd-card-how-to-return-it/648184/33 "2013-01-25T18:09:03Z")
Before you post your sign in the laundry room, set up a free e-mail account and include it on your sign. Once you’ve either returned the SD card or destroyed it, kill that account. No need to set yourself up for the headache of SPAM or vengeful e-mail stalking. —G! _Paranoia is a good policy when everyone is out to get you!_ ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-private-sd-card-how-to-return-it/648184/34 "2013-01-25T20:20:40Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > This. A thousand times this. Just throw it away - NO good can come of trying to initiate contact. But some good can come from letting someone know that the data has been destroyed. Hence the idea of a notice offering the opportunity to claim it but also the notification that the data will be otherwise destroyed if not claimed by date X. The party in question then has some reason to believe that the card did not fall into the hands of someone posting it on line. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2013, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-private-sd-card-how-to-return-it/648184/35 "2013-01-26T05:20:18Z")
> [@astro](#): > > You are trying to think of every excuse you can to stay involved in this. The uncertainty of what happened to the card will be as nothing compared to the reality that someone has accessed the card. A normal person will worry far less about a tiny micro SD getting lost in the shuffle than someone actually having accessed it. All these schemes you are concocting to find the owner and return the card are absurd. Get rid of it. Mental note to self: **astro** is a sensible MoFo. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Danja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@Danja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danja)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-private-sd-card-how-to-return-it/648184/36 "2013-01-27T23:54:26Z")
Hmm. Interesting mix of replies. I stopped looking the day after I posted this thread, so the last few replies were belated :). I ended up creating a new email address (great minds think alike, **Grestarian** ) and posting a notice in the laundry room saying that I had found a small, potentially valuable object and to contact me to have it returned. So far I haven’t received any emails. If I don’t get any by the middle of the week, I’ll just take down the sign and destroy the information on the card. I disagree with **astro** ’s conclusion that I’m reaching for excuses to contact the person. In fact, I would really like it if he/she didn’t contact me so that I could destroy the card guilt-free. However, I know that would be in a bad state if I lost a similar item and would appreciate someone letting me know that they had destroyed it (or if they returned it to me). It would give me at least some degree of closure and peace. But I’m very wary of potential stalking/revenge/etc, so I would much prefer if the person just didn’t show. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-private-sd-card-how-to-return-it/648184/37 "2013-01-28T00:13:26Z")
Is it possible for you to know her address without having actually seen the pictures? I mean, did you click on the files to see what was in them, or did they just pop up immediately? If the former, mail it back to her. Include a note that says, ‘‘I don’t know what’s on this, but I thought you might want it back.’’ Have your girlfriend write the note. ETA: Is anyone else wondering how the hell a micro SD chip would end up in the laundry room? What, like she just decided to carry it along with her keys when she went to do laundry? Weird. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-private-sd-card-how-to-return-it/648184/38 "2013-01-28T00:32:16Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > Is it possible for you to know her address without having actually seen the pictures? I mean, did you click on the files to see what was in them, or did they just pop up immediately? > > If the former, mail it back to her. Include a note that says, > > ‘‘I don’t know what’s on this, but I thought you might want it back.’’ > > Have your girlfriend write the note. > > ETA: Is anyone else wondering how the hell a micro SD chip would end up in the laundry room? What, like she just decided to carry it along with her keys when she went to do laundry? Weird. I’d guess it just fell out of a pocket. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-private-sd-card-how-to-return-it/648184/39 "2013-01-28T00:36:38Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > I’d guess it just fell out of a pocket. I just don’t think of a micro SD chip as something you would put in your pocket, especially if it’s a bunch of naked pictures. I’d have that shit hidden somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-private-sd-card-how-to-return-it/648184/40 "2013-01-28T02:15:06Z")
It most likely was in a phone in a pocket, and got ejected either into the pocket or into the laundry when the phone was removed. Some phones have the MicroSD card slot relatively accessible on the outer edges - if the little door has broken off, there you go. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-private-sd-card-how-to-return-it/648184.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-private-sd-card-how-to-return-it/648184.md?page=3)