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Baited Bytes – Harmless USB Payload Simulation
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This project contains a harmless educational simulation
of a USB drop attack. When executed, the program:

1. Shows a fake "loading" sequence in the console to
   simulate suspicious activity.
2. Displays a SECURITY WARNING popup explaining the
   risks of plugging in unknown USB devices.
3. Exits cleanly without modifying system files,
   exfiltrating data, or performing any destructive
   actions.

This payload is for EDUCATIONAL USE ONLY in a controlled
environment (e.g., classroom, lab, or capstone demo).


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1. Directory Structure
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Project root:
    /
    ├─ README.txt              ← This file
    ├─ src/                    ← Python source code
    ├─ build/                  ← temporary build artifacts
    ├─ dist/                   ← compiled executable 


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2. Folder Details
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/src
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Purpose:
    Contains the Python source code for the harmless
    USB payload simulation.

Typical contents:
    usb_payload_simulation.py
        - Main script that drives the simulation.
        - Uses:
            * time and os for console effects
            * tkinter and messagebox for the popup

    Core functions in the script:
        - payload_simulation()
            Simulates "suspicious" activity in the
            terminal by printing staged loading bars
            and status messages.

        - show_warning_popup()
            Displays a Tkinter-based warning popup
            explaining:
                • Risks of unknown USB devices
                • Examples of what real malware could do
                • Safe behavior recommendations
            Ends with a note that this is a harmless
            educational simulation.

        - main()
            Calls payload_simulation() then
            show_warning_popup(), and waits for the
            user to press ENTER before closing.

    Note:
        This is the version used to generate the
        compiled executable stored in /build.


/build
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Purpose:
    Stores compiled versions of the payload (e.g.,
    .exe files) for use on the USB drive during demos.

Typical contents:
    usb_payload_simulation.exe
        - Stand-alone executable built from the
          Python script in /src.
        - This is the file typically placed on the
          USB drive for the capstone demonstration.

    Additional files created by the build tool
    (if any) may also live here and should not be
    edited manually.






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3. How to Run (Summary)
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From source (for developers):
    1. Open a terminal in the /src folder.
    2. Run:
           python usb_payload_simulation.py
    3. A console window will show a staged loading
       sequence.
    4. A warning popup will appear via Tkinter.
    5. Press ENTER in the console to exit.

From the executable (for demo/USB use):
    1. Copy the executable from /build to the USB drive.
    2. On a test machine (preferably a VM), run:
           usb_payload_simulation.exe
    3. Observe console simulation and popup warning.

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4. Safety & Ethics
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- This project is designed for **education and awareness**
  about USB drop attacks, not for real-world exploitation.
- Do NOT deploy this payload on systems or USB drives
  without proper permission and a controlled environment.
- No real malware is included. The behavior is limited
  to console output and a warning popup.

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End of README
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