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Military Investigates Sale of Sensitive Data

Posted by Zonk on from the not-the-best-news dept.

smokeslikeapoet wrote to mention an article being run in the New York Times detailing the sale of sensitive data in Afghan markets. From the article: "The military acted after The Los Angeles Times and The Associated Press reported that computer memory drives smuggled out of the base were being sold in shops. Some drives bought by the reporters contained material marked secret as well as information about insurgency activities and names and personal details about American service members and Afghan agents working for the United States military." Fox News is reporting the sold storage units are being repurchased by the military as they can find them.

136 comments

  1. So, does anyone... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    So, does anyone have a .torrent?

    1. Re:So, does anyone... by CRCulver · · Score: 1

      Anything really interesting is likely to end up on Cryptome.

  2. In other news... by liliafan · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    One of the drives contained detailed information about the Bush strategy on how to win the war on terrorism, reports are vauge at the moment, however, the following was recovered:

    Dear

    Please give us either - lots of money or - lots of oil. If you don't do so, we will
    have the:

    [ ] CIA
    [ ] NSA
    [ ] FBI
    [ ] UN

    discover:

    [ ] WMD
    [ ] terrorist training cells
    [ ] Bin Laden

    operating within your nation.

    Lots of love

    Dubya. xoxox

    --
    GeekServ Unix Consulting Services (http://www.geekserv.com)
    1. Re:In other news... by Shut+the+fuck+up! · · Score: 1, Funny

      Dear

      [X] Whiny liberal asshole

      Please:

      [X] Shut the fuck up!

    2. Re:In other news... by Shut+the+fuck+up! · · Score: 0, Insightful

      Dear

      [X] Dumbass,

      Please

      [X] grow some balls and post logged in.

      Otherwise,

      [X] Shut the fuck up!

    3. Re:In other news... by tomcres · · Score: 2, Funny

      Actually, they found Saddam's weapons of mass destruction at the same Afghan market, but it took too long to draw up a military purchase order to "repurchase" them, so they've since been sold to someone else.

    4. Re:In other news... by KarateExplosions · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Dear

      [X] Asshat,

      The checkmark box letter schtick is worn out and

      [X] You're not clever

      Therefore,

      [X] Suck my ass.

    5. Re:In other news... by sgt_doom · · Score: 1
      Perhaps you should read what a Real American - co-founder of 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta (Delta Force), Eric Haney, has to say about Cheney/Bush and the Iraqi War.

      While I've always considered Marine Corps and Air Force to have the best Special Ops groups - I do agree with Mr. Haney in his opinions.

    6. Re:In other news... by drDugan · · Score: 1

      I found this list a good reply to the small-minded right-wing majority:

      Bush Wrong 36 Ways
            by Edward Jayne
      http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Apr06/Jayne11.htm

      Slanted: yes, but a useful list to put things in perspective.

  3. Windows WinPC by iggymanz · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I'm a little tired of Windows/WinPC's being used for sensitive government purposes, and in general treating all computers the same way a home PC is treated.

    1. Re:Windows WinPC by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I'm tired of the dumbing down of government security, and dumbed down home PC security that is the benchmark.

      I'm also tired of TrollMods saying legitimate criticism is "Flamebait" whenever it criticizes the government, Microsoft, or some other monopoly.

      --

      --
      make install -not war

    2. Re:Windows WinPC by yogikoudou · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I was going to say the same. How is it possible that Fox News reporters could even open the data files ?
      One could expect that everything is encrypted, every single file being a part of a globla security policy, etc.
      This is the army ! Big companies protect their sensible data by ensuring each sensible file is properly encrypted, defining trust circles, and strict key management policies. How were the files stored ? .DOC or .PDF files on USB keys ? I wonder how this is even possible.

    3. Re:Windows WinPC by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As a DoD contractor, this is exactly how it works. Trust me.

    4. Re:Windows WinPC by hazem · · Score: 1

      When I was in military intelligence... well, I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you sort of thing..

      Just normal PCs running windows and office, with top secret documents and all.

      Of course, when we discarded a computer, we removed the harddrives, open them up, used a belt-sander on the platters, then put the platters in an incinerator that was hot enough to melt them.

    5. Re:Windows WinPC by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Funny, I don't remember the article mentioning anything about what OS was used. Of course, you probably didn't actually take the five minutes to read the article so its no surprise you made the assumption. Oh, by the way:

      Most were blank or did not work, but three contained data that appeared to have come from inside the base

      The surfacing of the stolen computer devices (Both references from foxnews.com)

      By the way, I am in the military and we don't just use Windows. The windows computers we do use that contain sensitive data have very heavy restrictions on them. And the drives in the article were STOLEN.

    6. Re:Windows WinPC by tsm_sf · · Score: 4, Funny

      Of course, when we discarded a computer, we removed the harddrives, open them up, used a belt-sander on the platters, then put the platters in an incinerator that was hot enough to melt them.

      I was going to ask why you'd bother using a belt sander on something you were just going to melt anyway, but then I realized how much fun that would be.

      --
      Literalism isn't a form of humor, it's you being irritating.
    7. Re:Windows WinPC by Teun · · Score: 1
      .DOC or .PDF files on USB keys ?

      Surely it was OO or XML...

      --
      "The likes of Facebook and WhatsApp are free to those whose privacy is of zero value."
    8. Re:Windows WinPC by Dr.+Cody · · Score: 1

      You have just claimed that posters on Slashdot are being unfairly moderated by a cabal of pro-Microsoft, pro-government Slashdotters on Slashdot.

      Because the shear worthlessness of your post has singlehandedly reduced the overall quality of Slashdot, I'm going to try to repair the damage you've done by trying to guess my post number:

    9. Re:Windows WinPC by iggymanz · · Score: 1

      the article did mention that Powerpoint for presentations was popular, so there you go, secret plans on PPT.

    10. Re:Windows WinPC by Dr.+Cody · · Score: 1

      Let's try:

      #15133895

    11. Re:Windows WinPC by Dr.+Cody · · Score: 1

      Maybe this:

      #15133885

    12. Re:Windows WinPC by Dr.+Cody · · Score: 1

      Ooooh, so close. Let's try:

      #15133890

    13. Re:Windows WinPC by Dr.+Cody · · Score: 1

      Another near hit! I'm well on my way to repairing your damage:

      #15133896

    14. Re:Windows WinPC by Dr.+Cody · · Score: 0

      Well, here we go:

      #15133906

    15. Re:Windows WinPC by Dr.+Cody · · Score: 0

      Righting your wrongs is a tough job, but somebody's got to do it.

      #15133913

    16. Re:Windows WinPC by Dr.+Cody · · Score: 0

      I am a finely-tuned post no. guessing machine:

      #15133919

    17. Re:Windows WinPC by Dr.+Cody · · Score: 0

      I am the MODREN MAN!!!

      #15133926

    18. Re:Windows WinPC by hazem · · Score: 1

      That's a very good question. There are a few things you learn in the Army:

      1. there is the right way, the wrong way, and the Army way.
      2. it's best to do what you're told and not ask why
      3. few things make sense, and you'll just get a headache from trying to make sense of them

      I suppose we belt-sanded them while in the secure compound in case we got ambushed while driving the 3 blocks between the secure compound and the burn facility. Of course, the whole thing was on a big Army base, so there probably weren't too many terrorists and spies running around.

    19. Re:Windows WinPC by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The U.S. Army is extremely good at writing airtight policies on paper, but is completely inept at enforcing those same policies effectively. It's usually your typical case of a bureaucratic structure breaking down when faced by the reality of its needs vs. its wants. I'd wager 7 out of 10 US Army network admins could not even define the word "encryption" much less enforce a policy demanding it. Couple the lack of expertise with the fact that Uncle Sam has a terrible habit of outsourcing its information assuarance needs to corporate contractors who all too frequently either cut corners or implement draconian policies that hamper the missions they should be supporting and you get a recipe for just this kind of nonsense. Contrary to popular belief, the US Army of today is a far cry from the US Army of WWII. The demands are greater, the standards are lower, corporate greed and political manipulators are in control.

  4. Scary. by lisany · · Score: 3, Funny

    How long have we heard about companies selling old computers with customer data? Or people selling computers on ebay chock full of porn? The inability to learn from others' mistakes is a worry. Then again, the US military is in Asia

    Clearly whoever is in charge never saw the Princess Bride and learned from Vizzini's wisdom

    You only think I guessed wrong! That's what's so funny! I switched glasses when your back was turned! Ha ha! You fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The most famous is never get involved in a land war in Asia, but only slightly less well-known is this: never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha

    Course...he died, soo...

    1. Re:Scary. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And Vizzini got the quotation only partially correct as well.

      "Never get involved in a ladn war in Asia unless you control the air." was McArthur's FULL quote.

      Next time, get it right.

      No wonder Vizzini wound up dead. LOL

  5. Barn Door by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    " Fox News is reporting the sold storage units are being repurchased by the military as they can find them."

    Good luck with that. You're going to need it.

  6. Does the military know about encryption? by dmonahan · · Score: 5, Funny

    Or couldn't they get an export license?

  7. mis-information? by JeanBaptiste · · Score: 5, Interesting

    While our military may sometimes seem incompetent, don't forget they are involved in informational warfare in many different ways you might never think of.

    I wouldn't be surprised in the least if some or all of this 'leaked' information has been crafted to make our enemies think we are doing things we are not.

    This is nothing new, look up operation mincemeat for a very interesting story of a successful mis-information mission performed in WW2.

    1. Re:mis-information? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      I love stuff like that. Plus, being a Neal Stephenson fanboy, it made me chuckle along those lines too. That guy is one of the few people who can make something that's already interesting even more interesting through entertainment.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    2. Re:mis-information? by s20451 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I agree that the military is capable of great things *sometimes*. But I have been in the military, and the military basically attracts the same caliber of employee as any other government department.

      What is more likely, that the military let classified data walk out the door due to incompetence, or due to some clever X-files style conspiracy? After you answer that question, replace "the military" with "the department of motor vehicles" and ask yourself again. The answer would usually be the same in both cases.

      --
      Toronto-area transit rider? Rate your ride.
    3. Re:mis-information? by rchatterjee · · Score: 4, Interesting

      According to the original LA Times article the reporters were able to find actual soldier's SSNs which they were able to verify by tracking down the home addresses and personal vehicles of the soldiers.

      Granted the rest of the info could be false, but that would mean they're deliberately leaking troops' personal info which could be putting their families at home in some real danger.

    4. Re:mis-information? by smittyoneeach · · Score: 2, Insightful

      s/government department/any other large organization/

      Because people just don't scale.

      --
      Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see things thou dost not.--King Lear
    5. Re:mis-information? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Granted the rest of the info could be false, but that would mean they're deliberately leaking troops' personal info which could be putting their families at home in some real danger."

      Why? I can pick up my local newspaper which covers someone who is going overseas with full name and the town they live in.

      The main problem with SSNs is the ability to facilitate stolen identities, not direct harms way.

    6. Re:mis-information? by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 1

      Some of the thumbdrives reportedly (by MSNBC, which bought some in the nearby market) contain images of bodies tortured to death in Afghanistan by Americans.

      Even if those images are faked, for some kind of attempt to discredit MSNBC (and other) reporting of American torture, the major effect will be to promote America's reputation for torture, murder, insecurity... and disinformation.

      --

      --
      make install -not war

    7. Re:mis-information? by eviloverlordx · · Score: 1

      While our military may sometimes seem incompetent, don't forget they are involved in informational warfare in many different ways you might never think of.

      What does incompetence mean?

      --
      'Loose' is when your pants are three sizes too big. 'Lose' is when you misuse 'loose'.
    8. Re:mis-information? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The SSN gets you all the info you need to find someone directly without having to go around the town the newspaper directed you to asking a lot of suspicious questions. Plus the identity thieving thing could get them a bunch of quick cash to fund operations.

    9. Re:mis-information? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This was a British operation.

      Everyone knows that the Brits were great at this sort of thing, and we sucked ass. We used to shoot all the spys we caught, while the Brits turned theirs. So we were always chasing new spys the Germans sent in, while the Brits just sat back and fed misinformation through theirs.

      I don't suppose things have changed.

    10. Re:mis-information? by sgt_doom · · Score: 1

      Your comment, although thoughtful, would only make sense if the DOD - unfortunately under Donald "the Duck" Rumsfeld's control, didn't act completely unaware of WWII operations [although such misinformation campaigns have been used quite successfully during the past 4 decades - note the "Star Wars" program].

    11. Re:mis-information? by pipingguy · · Score: 1


      I keep hearing that 'military intelligence' is an oxymoron (it's become a meme). It's probably useful to keep that notion going, because, well, everyone *just knows* that everyone in the military is a complete moron and can't do anything right.

    12. Re:mis-information? by pipingguy · · Score: 1


      AKA "The Man Who Never Was". I read the book about 30 years ago and the story is now common knowledge amongst WW2 history fans.

  8. Re:FOX News? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No. Look up the word.

  9. Originally came from Daily Kos contributor by ElephanTS · · Score: 1

    http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/MSNBC_report_on_ US_military_secrets_0414.html

    So it's not exactly a Faux News scoop as mentioned.

    --
    spoonerize "magic trackpad"
    1. Re:Originally came from Daily Kos contributor by drDugan · · Score: 1

      this was close to my first thought ... this is "fox news" folks. I don't trust fox news at all any more. Call them whnat they are: liars. From my point of view, sometimes what's reported is true, but often times it's not -- not much of a "news" source.

    2. Re:Originally came from Daily Kos contributor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The headline on that Raw Story story says "MSNBC report on US military secrets on sale in Afghanistan mentions new 'torture' photos". The Kos headline reads "BREAKING: Stolen Classified Military Data in MSNBC's Possession". What part of MSNBC don't you understand?

  10. Win-win solution. by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 4, Funny

    Here's a win-win solution: Send the old hard drives and other media to our units in Iraq. They can duct-tape them to their Humvees and use them as armor.

    The bene's:
    1) If the Iraqis steal the media, it'll be useless: the electricity in Iraq is never on long enough to scan a drive.
    2) If you leave the media taped to a Humvee long enough you'll be guaranteed to achieve true data destruction.

    1. Re:Win-win solution. by fobbman · · Score: 2, Funny

      Given that the hard drives would likely have Windows on them, due to the numerous security holes I'd say it'd be at best no different than them not being there at all.

  11. See also the BBC report by smithberry · · Score: 3, Informative

    The BBC news site reported this a couple of days ago:

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/490505 2.stm

    I'm sure I read somewhere that the military are supposed to just melt old storage devices to be sure of getting rid of the data, but now I can't find that report anywhere. Theory and practice often differ I guess.

    1. Re:See also the BBC report by Relic+of+the+Future · · Score: 0, Troll
      _Slashdot_ reported this news a couple days ago.

      Zonk's... what can I say... a bit slow.

      --
      Those who fail to understand communication protocols, are doomed to repeat them over port 80.
    2. Re:See also the BBC report by ScottLindner · · Score: 1

      There are many approved destruction methods. Depending on the use of the media, there are some methods that are not permitted, and others that are directly required.

      I've never heard of melting, but I have heard of grinding to a fine powder, incineration, and demagnetizing.

      --
      Slashdot.. where people join together in deliberate ignorance.
    3. Re:See also the BBC report by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wouldn't incineration be the same as melting... or at least friggin' close?

    4. Re:See also the BBC report by ehrichweiss · · Score: 1
      The most used data destruction device by government agencies: sledgehammer.

      Had a contract recycling computers for the state gov't and if any hard drives exist, I am required to smash them with a hammer though I've done 35+ passes with a secure erase and have found it to be very effective but SLOW comparatively..heh.

      Either way, this definitely happens a LOT. Most people aren't security minded and will toss almost anything thinking that a simple "format c:" will do the trick...or that the person who buys it will do it for them.

      --
      0x09F911029D74E35BD84156C5635688C0
    5. Re:See also the BBC report by Tsunayoshi · · Score: 1
      I'm sure I read somewhere that the military are supposed to just melt old storage devices to be sure of getting rid of the data, but now I can't find that report anywhere. Theory and practice often differ I guess.


      But from what I gather this was not material that was improperly disposed of, but people taking live working drives and USB sticks with information off base and selling them.

      All of the destruction on old data storage devices doesn't matter when people are stealing the live stuff.

      Sort of like you can lock down a system on the network until it is all but unuseable, but give me physical access to the box and I will own it.
      --
      "Get a bicycle. You will not regret it, if you live." - Mark Twain, "Taming the Bicycle"
    6. Re:See also the BBC report by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "the military are supposed to just melt old storage devices"

      Incorrect. Usually, they are just written over with random bits a dozen times or so. Then, they are good to go again.

  12. Second time by k-sound · · Score: 2, Informative

    This is the second time this happens in a few weeks time, the US military should really start to take better care for it's secrets.

    Also,
    DUPE!

    1. Re:Second time by JorDan+Clock · · Score: 1

      This isn't a dupe. This article talks about how they're dealing with the problem, the previous article revealed the problem.

  13. Umm.... by KarateExplosions · · Score: 5, Funny
    Fox News is reporting the sold storage units are being repurchased by the military as they can find them.


    Fuck that repurchasing shit. TAKE IT. You're the goddamned United States military.
    1. Re:Umm.... by CRCulver · · Score: 1

      You don't win hearts and minds by storming under Trader Ahmed's tent and plundering his wares. Paying some prices which, for Americans, is negligible is a better way to go about things.

    2. Re:Umm.... by Tibor+the+Hun · · Score: 1

      exactly.
      I wasn't under the impression that you had to buy back the stuff that was stolen from you.

      Unless, of course your bicycle ends up at a pawn shop.

      --
      If you don't know what AltaVista is (was), get off my lawn.
    3. Re:Umm.... by Daniel_Staal · · Score: 3, Insightful

      But if they do that, the dealers will start hiding from them, and then they'll have to work harder to find the drives in the first place. They may even end up having to use force, and the dealers might decide to use force back. You could end up in a situation where a US soldier is killed trying to retrieve a thumbdrive.

      This way is better and cheaper for everybody.

      --
      'Sensible' is a curse word.
    4. Re:Umm.... by KarateExplosions · · Score: 1

      They're not winning our hearts and minds by stealing sensitive military thumb drives and selling them at the bazaar next door.

      We'll just call it a wash.

    5. Re:Umm.... by mr100percent · · Score: 1

      Why so quick to say Afghans stole it? How do you know Joe Dropout didn't try pawning them for some heroin?

    6. Re:Umm.... by KarateExplosions · · Score: 1

      So maybe the merchant didn't steal the drives, maybe he just trade drugs for them. Or bought them off of drug dealers.

      In that case, let me get out my wallet.

    7. Re:Umm.... by SpaceLifeForm · · Score: 1
      This is the problem with priorities in the bush administration. They can find ways to lose billions in Iraq, but can't seem to lose a few million to the people in Afghanistan. I'll bet you, that for a few thousand, they can find some local tech to physically lock up the stuff at night.

      --
      You are being MICROattacked, from various angles, in a SOFT manner.
    8. Re:Umm.... by KarateExplosions · · Score: 1

      "Lock"? What is this "lock" you speak of?

      We're running a military base here, not some fancy-pants place with locks, fer Chrissakes.

    9. Re:Umm.... by Arcane_Rhino · · Score: 1
      I wasn't under the impression that you had to buy back the stuff that was stolen from you.

      In this case it is probably just quicker. Not to mention, on the off chance that the selling entity has NOT YET viewed-copied-distributed-and sold the information, the military might get its information back with minimal dissemination.

    10. Re:Umm.... by mr100percent · · Score: 1

      My post didn't say anything about paying for it. I was just saying you're implying that Afghans came in and stole it (hard to do on a military base).

      I agree with the other poster, a harsh military action will only make things worse. Get the government to mandate their return or something.

    11. Re:Umm.... by Cyno · · Score: 1

      I think we the people should take all harddrives away from the military until they can prove they understand things like security.

      We have had too many security breaches lately. Its time we start expecting more accountability.

    12. Re:Umm.... by AlterTick · · Score: 1
      Why so quick to say Afghans stole it? How do you know Joe Dropout didn't try pawning them for some heroin?

      First, if by "dropout" you refer to some civilian employee of a contractor providing base services, then yes, perhaps. If you're referring to members of the military, then you need to start getting your information about the military from somewhere other than old Vietnam war movies. This ain't yer pappy's military no more, full of convicts and no-loads. "Dropouts" are considered Tier 3 enlistment material-- in other words you'll need phone calls from a senator or two before they'll even consider making an exception. Even GEDs and other HS diploma equivalents are only considered Tier 2. The Army, the most lenient of the services, has a hard cap of 1 in 10 enlistees being Tier 2.

      Second, you obviously also have no idea how ridiculously cheap heroin is there. No one needs to sell stolen USB drives to feed a heroin habit in Afghanistan.

      --
      Conclusion: the Empire squashes the Federation like a bug. Accept it.
    13. Re:Umm.... by mr100percent · · Score: 1
      Army reaching breaking point, experts warn

      The Army fell short about 6,700 recruits in fiscal year 2005, its biggest shortfall since 1979, its worst year ever. In response, the Army has begun to accept more high school dropouts and Category IV recruits - those who make the lowest acceptable scores on the military's entrance exam.

      This is quite troubling. The report notes that the army now appears to be meeting its recruiting goals by admitting high school dropouts. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, the worst SecDef in the history of the country, wants the military to move in the direction of high tech. I'd say he needs a high school and a university within the army if the dropouts are eventually going to operate that machinery.
    14. Re:Umm.... by Ender_Wiggin · · Score: 1

      Ok, I'll bite. How cheap is the Heroin in Afghanistan?

      (Don't know why you bolded it. They'd probably have to go off-base to get some, right? That stuff doesn't get trafficked in that easily to a US military base, I'd assume.)

    15. Re:Umm.... by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Aside from the behind-the-scenes type stuff, military technology is designed to be simple to use. I hate to make the comparison (Especially with the story about the Japanese investigating computer games) but using some of the more complicated weapons systems is now as easy as playing a computer game. For instance, piloting a helicopter might be hard, but both the apache and the comanche prototype (that was supposedly cancelled - not sure whether to believe that or not, but helis are somewhat deprecated since the proliferation of man-fired rockets) use a cannon that is aimed based on where the pilot turns their head, and which use advanced but automatic optics to allow the pilot to have a view through the opaque portions of the craft, again, simply by looking in that direction. The OICW/M29 is definitely going to be designed to be as easy to use as possible, but it's a fairly sophisticated computer system mated to a short carbine assault rifle with a 20mm cannon/grenade launcher.

      The target acquisition / fire control system (TA/FCS) is the most expensive and complicated unit of the whole system, since it must combine day and night vision capabilities, laser rangefinding unit, ballistic computer and various interfaces to the grenade launcher and external systems. It is used to find the targets in any light and weather conditions, determine the range to the target, calculate and display the aiming data, so the grenade or bullet could be fired to the desired point of impact, and then supply the data to the grenade launcher, so the range could be preset into the grenade fuse. In the case of damage to the TA/FCS the 20mm grenade launcher still can be used in the direct impact mode, as well as the rifle part of the system.
      (http://world.guns.ru/assault/as40-e.htm)

      It does a hell of a lot, it's definitely to be considered "high tech", but you think they're going to make it hard to use?

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    16. Re:Umm.... by 1u3hr · · Score: 1
      This ain't yer pappy's military no more, full of convicts and no-loads.

      Has it changed so much since the Gulf War, as recounted in Jarhead? And though I realise it's fiction, the makers of Buffalo Soldiers did clainm that it was all based on true events.

  14. Slashdot investigates reposts of stories by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Slashdot acted after multiple anonmous cowards and some logged in users reported that stories posted days and sometimes even hours ago were being reposted on Slashdot. Some stories read by the Slashbots contained material marked 'already posted' as well as information about years old activities and names and personal details about things that are no longer relevant. In other news, the 2.4.21 kernel was released."

  15. It just goes to show you... by Itninja · · Score: 0

    The weakest part of any security model is the human element. Anyone ever see Johnny Mneumonic (spelling?)? We should just replace the agents' and soldiers childhood memories with all that sensitive data. The present administration not withstanding, it's a safe bet that those soldiers and agents won't "loose" or "misplace" their brains.

    --
    I judt got a nre Kinesis keybiartf so please excusr ant egregiou typos.
    1. Re:It just goes to show you... by secolactico · · Score: 1

      But what if the rebels get a super smart dolphin to decrypt the soldiers' brain?

      --
      No sig
  16. Encryption? by rewinn · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Pardon my innocence, but shouldn't our professional military encrypt its storage devices?

    --
    --- Attorneys Assisting Citizen-Soldiers & Families -
    1. Re:Encryption? by Grrreat · · Score: 1

      That's what I was thinking! Seems the IT department of the Army doesn't have the budget to keep users up to date with stuff like encryption. Of course alot of what I see is that most technician are not that sharp having only been mostly Windows admins themselves. Even the older technician I run into only know Windows and kind of remember a few DOS commands.

    2. Re:Encryption? by rewinn · · Score: 1

      1. Invent some form of encrypting flash memory 2. Make it in India at $10 per unit 3. Sell to Army for $25,000 a unit 4. ??? 5. Profit !!!!

      --
      --- Attorneys Assisting Citizen-Soldiers & Families -
    3. Re:Encryption? by M1000 · · Score: 1

      Even on windows, using truecrypt, is really easy. Would be better than nothing.

    4. Re:Encryption? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      First, you'd have to have the competence/privledges to do that, which Joe Soldier does not. Which is good, because considering the percentage that cant remember their logons on a daily basis, we'd never have access to any important data.

  17. wont work. by JeanBaptiste · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'd imagine the main cause of death from a roadside bomb is not the 'blast' itself but rather the shrapnel produced.

    If a piece of shrapnel traveling at such speeds hit a hard drive, I'd imagine the result would be even more shrapnel from the HD+case shattering.

    Armoring a vehicle or a person is a little more complicated than just slapping some extra pieces of metal onto it.

    I'm hoping you were shooting for funny and not insightful, the mods don't seem to get it anyways.

    1. Re:wont work. by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Actually, ablative armor is used to great success in certain situations. It's armor that is designed to be shredded away, in the process absorbing and dissipating impact energy. Think about it; if you had a hard drive on the outside of a vehicle, it would at the very least absorb a bunch of energy. Most of the energy released would likely continue going in the same direction as the original projectile, but it would be spread over a larger area, and some of it would be released in other directions. Spreading out the impact is one of the basic principles of armor, anyway.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  18. Why "repurchase" the drives? by FellowConspirator · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What point is there to repurchasing the drives? Once the information is out, it's out. Anyone that would be interested isn't interested in the drives, they are interested in the data -- data that's easily copied and transmitted in a couple of minutes. All you are doing is paying people to get back a USB key, the data on which they've already sold someone else.

    Heck, let them keep the drive as a keepsake. If the information is misinformation, maybe it will propagate farther. If it's real information, the damage is already done, there's really no point in rewarding for it.

    1. Re:Why "repurchase" the drives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Its so the military can arrest for possession of stolen property and send em off to prison with no trial

    2. Re:Why "repurchase" the drives? by paxgaea · · Score: 0

      Because according to the story they are getting a 25% discount from the Five Finger Afghan Market Stall...can't beat that!

    3. Re:Why "repurchase" the drives? by schlick · · Score: 1

      The point is:

      1) Finding out what data has been comprimised.
      2) Determining how it was comprimised.

      --
      "It's because they're stupid, that's why. That's why everybody does everything." -Homer Simpson
    4. Re:Why "repurchase" the drives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If the information is misinformation, maybe it will propagate farther. If it's real information, the damage is already done,

      That makes no sense at all.

    5. Re:Why "repurchase" the drives? by Ernesto+Alvarez · · Score: 1

      What point is there to repurchasing the drives? Once the information is out, it's out. Anyone that would be interested isn't interested in the drives, they are interested in the data -- data that's easily copied and transmitted in a couple of minutes. All you are doing is paying people to get back a USB key, the data on which they've already sold someone else.


      I was thinking the same, but then it came to me. The target of the theft was probably NOT the information, but the drive itself (to make an extra buck on the side). If that's the situation, the information was probably NOT copied. Then it would make sense to purchase the drives back.

      Obviously now the situation is different, since we should assume the traders now know the information in them is valuable too. The right move would probably be to recover the drives, tighten security and getting the right contacts so the next batch of stolen drives can be bought ASAP (and probably at premium prices).

      BTW, force will probably not work. If they TAKE those drives, the next batch will probably go to Al-Qaeda (or anyone who will pay top dollars for the information).
      --
      GPG 0x1B479C78
  19. Lameness by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Computer memory drives"? Who wrote that and why are they allowed to breathe?

  20. Poor IT Security Governance... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Storing unencrypeted sensitive data on a PC is bad enough, on a Laptop it's even worse - but who the hell is allowing the US Military to store classified data on REMOVABLE MEDIA? I work in Information Security for a Fortune 5 company, and we have banned the use of all removable media for just this reason, it has a tendency to travel. Is the US Military so obtuse as to believe that their people will never misplace on of these devices, much less walk off with them?

    1. Re:Poor IT Security Governance... by bkilgore · · Score: 1

      Actually is usually required to be on some sort of removable media. It is much easier to lock up a hard drive than an entire PC.

    2. Re:Poor IT Security Governance... by evol262 · · Score: 1

      In what shop were you in? Where I've been (granted, TS:SCI rather than just Classified, as this probably was) there were pieces superglued in the USB ports and speaker outputs so you knew you were not to take any sensitive information off this PC. None of the machines had CD burners or anything else.

      Yes, hard drives are typically removable. From all accounts, however, these are flash drives, which should have never been allowed to touch a machine with sensitive information to begin with.

      --
      "The more corrupt a society, the more numerous are its laws." -Tacticus
    3. Re:Poor IT Security Governance... by lawpoop · · Score: 1

      "I work in Information Security for a Fortune 5 company" Do you work out of a tent with no AC? Do you get to work in a car or on a camel?

      Think about the field conditions in Afganistan. Any given area may not have electricity, let alone internet hook-ups or a limitless supply of CD-Rs. If you have to get 700 MB of data from one place to another continuously, this is probably the most effective way of doing it.

      --
      Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.
      -- Pablo Picasso
    4. Re:Poor IT Security Governance... by bkilgore · · Score: 1

      The amount of work to protect the data goes way up the higher the information is classified. The Secret level does not require as much as TS. The rules are also different for the government (and the military). I work for a contractor before and I have been told the rules for contractors are more stringent than the government and military.

    5. Re:Poor IT Security Governance... by Curien · · Score: 1

      "Secret" isn't really all that big of a deal. Everyone and their grandma has access to secret information.

      --
      It's always a long day... 86400 doesn't fit into a short.
    6. Re:Poor IT Security Governance... by penguinboy · · Score: 1

      So, what's your policy on sensitive physical documents? What makes electronic media any different than physical documents?

    7. Re:Poor IT Security Governance... by jafac · · Score: 1



      The NSA has a publicly available set of documents on securing and hardening various popular commercial computer operating systems. (hardening WIndows NT, hardening Mac OS X, etc.)

      The Windows 2000 document specifically instructs security engineers on disabling USB storage drivers.

      Sure, if someone can gain physical access, and attach an external drive with a bootable OS, it's owned. But casual insertion of a USB thumb drive on a secured system won't work if it's been properly secured.

      --

      These are my friends, See how they glisten. See this one shine, how he smiles in the light.
    8. Re:Poor IT Security Governance... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Anonymous for my protection. To my knowledge thumb drives are banned throughout the DoD for the storage of classified data for exactly this reason. Unfortunately, it's quite often the best way to do your job, so they're frequently used for everything from moving files to a briefing computer or laptop for a presentation to transferring data in the field.

      Unfortunately the previous posters are correct about the technical intelligence of the average soldier. I've met a lot of bright folks in various specialties, but few of them are technically competent. I'd trust many of them with a billion dollar aircraft and my car/boat/wife/heart surgery, but I wouldn't want them on my computer as root! That being said the current system obviously doesn't do the job of enabling soldiers to transfer data easily while safeguarding that data.

      My suggestion, you ask? The DoD already has a Common Access Card (CAC) program implemented. It currently stores some basic biometrics, a pin, and a digital signature. The new cards look even more promising. It's going to prove impossible to stop people from using thumb drives to get their jobs done. We already have excellent encryption developed. I recommend implementing a proper encryption program that requires fingerprints and a pin, with a duress pin which would destroy the data if entered. Most people can remember a PIN, and most people have fingerprints. Of course it'd be more complicated than that, with features to enable continuity allowing groups access and ensuring someone can still read the data if their convoy gets toasted, but you get the basic idea. No new technology needs to be developed, and it'd be Army Proof (R).

    9. Re:Poor IT Security Governance... by typical · · Score: 1

      I work in Information Security for a Fortune 5 company, and we have banned the use of all removable media for just this reason, it has a tendency to travel.

      So now nobody copies your data, but nobody wants to either, because you've driven away all the talented workers?

      --
      Any program relying on (nontrivial) preemptive multithreading will be buggy.
  21. What? They're repurchasing them? by Keyslapper · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Fox News is reporting the sold storage units are being repurchased by the military as they can find them

    Why the hell are they repurchasing their own porperty?

    Isn't that going to turn theft of military equipment and information into a whole economy?

    Don't get me wrong, I don't think we should be there in the first place (IMHO, what little real benefit either the US or Iraq could ever hope to gain is nowhere near worth the lives of all those that have died), but if some bastard swipes my laptop, and I find out where it is, the last damn thing I'm going to do is buy it back. I don't care if the guy holding it is the one who stole it or not, he's not getting a nickle for something that's mine.

  22. It's Ok, really. by TiggertheMad · · Score: 2, Funny

    From TFA:

    ..Some drives bought by the reporters contained material marked secret..

    Hey, this is ok, as President Jr. decided to declassify the data and sell the drives to make a few bucks for a whitehouse kegger.

    Badum-BUM! Hey, I'll be here all week...

    --

    HA! I just wasted some of your bandwidth with a frivolous sig!
  23. What's a "computer memory drives"? by aplusjimages · · Score: 1

    No seriously. I heard this word used yesterday in the news and I know what a hard drive is, and a jump drive, I know what memory (RAM) is, but I don't know what a "computer memory drives" is. Is it just a way of saying hard drive?

    --
    Can I bum a sig?
    1. Re:What's a "computer memory drives"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow an elitist and a moron.

      A hard drive is another form of memory.

  24. Re:What? They're repurchasing them? by Dr.+Manhattan · · Score: 1
    Why the hell are they repurchasing their own porperty?

    Isn't that going to turn theft of military equipment and information into a whole economy?

    Well, if they can get to them fast enough, they might be able to prevent secrets from getting out. Offering a reward to get them back makes a certain amount of sense in that context. If the value of the secrets outweighs the cost in money and risk...

    Perhaps they are counting on increased vigilance and revised procedures to keep more drives from getting lifted.

    --
    PHEM - party like it's 1997-2003!
  25. Re:What? They're repurchasing them? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's what they've been doing in Iraq as well. Repurchasing their own military weapons that filter through the Iraqi security force. Then they get stolen again, buy them again, etc, etc.

  26. it's not the first time. by jerky42 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Back a few years ago, I was wandering around a flea market in a 3rd world country. This country had a US base in it that was destroyed by a natural disaster some years before. As I wandered past a stall with some ancient electronics in it, I happened to notice a new-looking KY-58 radio sitting there.
    For those that don't know, a KY-58 is a secure voice radio that is still in use today in some USAF aircraft. It cost about $50,000 new.
    Amazed by this, I asked the guy if it worked. He said "Sure, I just had it hooked up." I said, "how much?" He said, "100 US$". I said "Show me, and I'll buy it." He tried valiantly to hook it up, but the custom power plug, and the fact that it ran on 28v DC and 400 Hz AC defeated him, so I gave him $50 for it, and flew back home, and turned it in to the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. They said "Thanks", and I never got my $50 back.

    --
    The strong do what they can, while the weak suffer what they must.
    1. Re:it's not the first time. by ktakki · · Score: 1

      Was it Clark AFB on Luzon?

      k.

      --
      "In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart." - Anne Frank
  27. So... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    ...which oxymoron is responsible for this? Military Intelligence or Military Security?

  28. Hundreds of Billions of Dollars to the Military... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...and it takes the press to figure this out and then tell the military?

    the tererrists must be profoundly pleased with the level of us military incompetence.

    from the very top, down.

    tick tock, tick tock, people...

    it is only a matter of time before the usa falls from its historical perch.

  29. Read Between the Lines Here by popo · · Score: 2, Insightful

    What I find amazing about this is that these drives weren't smuggled for intelligence purposes. If they had been, they'd be in some room full of other gathered/stolen data files somewhere in Fallujah. ...But these drives are for sale in stores. This speaks volumes about the motivation of the thieves. ...and its more evidence that what we're really fighting is a symptom of poverty.

    --
    ------ The best brain training is now totally free : )
    1. Re:Read Between the Lines Here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It speaks volumes about al Qaeda's operations and support in Afghanistan. Which means that "what we're really fighting is a symptom of poverty", though it sounds pleasant, is wrong. If poverty is the reason they sold it in a market instead of mailing it off some terrorist cell, then poverty would be working in our favor in the WoT.

  30. zing! by YesIAmAScript · · Score: 1

    My mod points ran out yesterday, damn it.

    --
    http://lkml.org/lkml/2005/8/20/95
  31. I'M IN YOUR BASE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    STEALING YOUR MEMORY DRIVES

  32. Thing is... by MadUndergrad · · Score: 1

    How many people in Afghanistan have easy access to a computer? Was this near a fairly large city, or out in bumfuck nowhere? If the latter I'm guessing they're hoping to re-acquire them before the owners have a chance to get to a computer. If they're near a city where there's electricity and computers, well then they're kinda screwed.

  33. link that does not require a subscription by viking2000 · · Score: 1

    here is Google's link to the same article in 292 newspapers that do not require a subscription.

    --
    "Fix it"
  34. Duplicity by Ohreally_factor · · Score: 1

    Maybe Slashdot is trying to help the US military's disinformation campaign, twice!!

    --
    It's not offtopic, dumbass. It's orthogonal.
  35. Re:What? They're repurchasing them? by Stickerboy · · Score: 1

    >Don't get me wrong, I don't think we should be there in the first place (IMHO, what little real benefit either the US or Iraq could ever hope to gain is nowhere near worth the lives of all those that have died), but if some bastard swipes my laptop, and I find out where it is, the last damn thing I'm going to do is buy it back. I don't care if the guy holding it is the one who stole it or not, he's not getting a nickle for something that's mine.

    Of course, we're talking about Afghanistan, not Iraq, here. Unlike what the Bush administration would like you to believe, Afghanistan and Iraq are actually separate wars, with separate reasons to fight them.

    We're also going to buy it back, instead of just take it, on the off chance that the person fencing the laptop might come into possession of any other sensitive US material that we would like to have the option of buying back. Instead of it ending up in the hands of someone we'd rather not it be in.

    --
    Light a fire for a man and he'll be warm for a day. Light a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.
  36. Can't help but remind me... by ChePibe · · Score: 1
    Of the time when a journalist accidentally purchased al-Qaeda hard drives on the black market.

    If you haven't read the story yet, read it. It's absolutely fascinating to look and see what's on the enemy's mind.

  37. AHA! by SuperBanana · · Score: 1
    What is more likely, that the military let classified data walk out the door due to incompetence, or due to some clever X-files style conspiracy? After you answer that question, replace "the military" with "the department of motor vehicles" and ask yourself again. The answer would usually be the same in both cases.

    Or so they want you to think! Mwuahahaha.

    --
    Please help metamoderate.
  38. An open call for http://kabul.craigslist.com by lateralus_1024 · · Score: 1

    If ever there was a need for a Kabul portal of Craigslist, this is it.

    Can you imagine the Rants and Raves section??

    --
    If you think /. comments are bad, check out Digg.
  39. I hope we've all learned a lesson here today by Dr.+Cody · · Score: 0

    Don't be a fucking Internet martyr.

    1. Re:I hope we've all learned a lesson here today by bhiestand · · Score: 1

      Thanks, I needed the laugh.

      --
      SWM seeks new sig for a brief fling
    2. Re:I hope we've all learned a lesson here today by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 1

      That's sheer worthlessness.

      --

      --
      make install -not war

  40. I know I'm going OT but... by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

    The American position obliged Muslims to force the Americans out of the arena first to enable them to focus on their Jewish enemy. Why are the Americans fighting a battle on behalf of the Jews? Why do they sacrifice their sons and interests for them?

    Someone who doesn't understand giving aid to one's allies (For whatever reasons, I don't think any of us believe they're altruistic but anyway) is someone who just can't be reasoned with or expected to act in a logical manner. Gotta wonder what was on the laptop that the guy never got back...

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  41. the sale of sensitive data in Afghan markets. by mima1895 · · Score: 1

    It seems that the military do not even start to heed thier own designation of secret data and if this were a 4th or 5th grader who had lost his-her backup files, one could take the time to explain how this data could be used if ones non-friend obtained it. Given that these are grown men/women who are trusted with weapons that can and do kill other humans, this type of behavior is totall and uncatigorically unacceptable. One hopes that they are very busilly buying back the data--however, one also knows that no matter what they buy, another copy will surely be given to those who can use it against the US. This type of behavior leads me to think of small children playing at war, not grown men and women actually attempting to pacify a country. If any one is capable of assertaining what happened, those even remotely responsible should be brought home and replaced by adults.