It is not recommended to use thumb drives and external hard drives from unknown sources or individuals due to potential data security and privacy issues. Therefore, to protect your data, we suggest the following steps:

1. Check that the device you are using is not infected or damaged.
2. Scan the device with an up-to-date antivirus program.
3. Check what data may be on the device and whether or not this data belongs to you.
4. Ensure that you are using secure encryption techniques.
5. Be aware of any potential legal issues or risks that could arise from using the device or data.