my $u = $<;
        setuid(0) || die "Cannot change UID from $u to 0";
        system(split(' ','/sbin/modprobe usb-storage'));
        setuid($u) || die "Cannot drop privileges";
        system(split(' ','/sbin/mount /mnt/usb/flash'));

        [do some file manipulation in here]

        chdir ('/');
        system(split(' ','/sbin/umount /mnt/usb/flash'));
        sleep (2);        # this is pure raging paranoia
        setuid(0) || die "Cannot change UID from $u to 0";
        system(split(' ','/sbin/modprobe -r usb-storage'));
        setuid($u) || die "Cannot drop privileges";