BUTLER, Pa. -- Several political groups in the country have begun an assault of governmental and other political groups’ computer systems and networks, Butler City Police said in a news release Wednesday.

A USB port known as the “Thumb Drive” is left lying in an obvious place where it could be found.

The idea is that an employee of the target agency will pick up the Thumb Drive and insert it into a machine inside the building, while trying to identify who the device belongs to.

Once the drive is opened, sometimes a file copy of the Paris Hilton sex tape is found.

Other times, the drive will contain files that are given titles that entice the finder of the USB device to open a file.

This Trojan can be the type that will upload personal employee or patient data.

Other times the file downloads a virus that is designed to attack the computer and any network it is connected to, including sending viruses out to everyone listed on any email files.

The idea is to obtain sensitive information to disrupt the lives of the organization’s employees and/or shut down their day-to-day business.

Anyone who finds a Thumb Drive device is cautioned to not insert it into any computer whose information could compromise the network or possibly destroy it.