US Army Files Found On Second-Hand MP3 Player

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US Army Files Found On Second-Hand MP3 Player

Posted by CmdrTaco on Monday January 26, 2009 @02:29AM from the great-seller-+++ dept.

MichaelSmith writes "A New Zealand man who bought a second hand MP3 player from a store in the US found it loaded with the names and personal details of American soldiers, as well as a mission briefing and information about equipment. Chris Ogle says he will return the unit to the US Defense Department if asked, and that it never worked as a music player anyway. A slightly different version of the story is available from TVNZ."

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YEAH! by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 02:31 · Score: -1, Offtopic

wohooooo
what are the exit policies of the army? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 02:35 · Score: -1, Troll

i would think that in an organization as large and as stereotypically stringent as the us army that they'd have some sort of exit policy for equipment and personnel. could it be that it was bypassed in an extraordinary effort by trolls to make a pun about goatse or other stretched orifices left with wounds made by sharp objects exiting their bodies?
1. Re:what are the exit policies of the army? by NewbieProgrammerMan · 2009-01-26 03:20 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  i would think that in an organization as large and as stereotypically stringent as the us army that they'd have some sort of exit policy for equipment and personnel.
  I would have thought so, too, until I spent a few years in the US military. You'd be amazed how much and what kind of stuff makes it past policies (exit or otherwise). When I lived in a military town, it seems like I'd see a story every year or so about about service members getting caught with garages full of new and/or used stuff.
  
  --
  [b.belong('us') for b in bases if b.owner() == 'you']
2. Re:what are the exit policies of the army? by UseTheSource · 2009-01-26 03:29 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  When I lived in a military town, it seems like I'd see a story every year or so about about service members getting caught with garages full of new and/or used stuff.
  That would make for one hell of a 'garage sale'! ;)
  
  --
  "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer." -Adolf Hitler
  "We are one Nation, we are one People." -The One 'leader'
3. Re:what are the exit policies of the army? by Hordeking · 2009-01-26 04:23 · Score: 1
  
  i would think that in an organization as large and as stereotypically stringent as the us army that they'd have some sort of exit policy for equipment and personnel.
  You'd think that an organization as large and as stereotypically stringent as the us army would store their privileged data on something a little more robust, professional, and secure than an iPod.
  
  --
  Disclaimer: The opinions and actions of the US Gov't are in no way representative of those held by this author or its ci
4. Re:what are the exit policies of the army? by palegray.net · 2009-01-26 04:41 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  The Army doesn't used iPods to store data. Service members, however, have a habit of ignoring policies and using whatever storage mechanism is handy to transfer data between systems. I'm in the Navy, and I've seen similar behavior. Yes, there are policies against it on my side as well. Stuff still happens, and this is exactly why we have rules concerning storage devices.
  
  --
  512 MB RAM, 20 GB disk, 200 GB transfer, five datacenters. $19.95/month.
5. Re:what are the exit policies of the army? by DelgadoRandom · 2009-01-26 04:54 · Score: 1
  
  Military personnel are also favored targets for petty thefts while on leave. In many European countries, the Army provides unmarked, but so obviously government vans (read: plain white 'child molestor' type) for use by service members there on training rotations when they want to take in the sights. Thefts and break-ins are rampant as a result, esp. in parking lots near popular tourist sites.
6. Re:what are the exit policies of the army? by tlhIngan · 2009-01-26 05:04 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  The Army doesn't used iPods to store data. Service members, however, have a habit of ignoring policies and using whatever storage mechanism is handy to transfer data between systems. I'm in the Navy, and I've seen similar behavior. Yes, there are policies against it on my side as well. Stuff still happens, and this is exactly why we have rules concerning storage devices.
  The problem is, if you ban storage devices, you're gonna have to provide an equally convenient way to move data around. Otherwise everyone's going to find their own method, which may be as simple as emailing it around.
  The issue is that rules are made, but the rulemakers don't realize the reason why people were doing what they were doing. Ban storage devices, and if someone still needs to get data from point A to point B, well, you've just got a bunch of people who are going to find a way to either circumvent the rule, or to find an alternative, which may not be as secure.
  Banning the devices without an equally convenient alternative will just result in people finding workarounds. Just don't be surprised what those workarounds are. Interfere with people Getting Stuff Done(tm) without educating them on How to Get Stuff Done without X...
7. Re:what are the exit policies of the army? by andereandre · 2009-01-26 05:07 · Score: 0, Offtopic
  
  hmm, not so happy about your sig. Especially because "The One 'leader'" as you call it made it clear that he can't do anything on his own. But being from Europe I am perhaps a bit oversensitive about people who don't understand a thing about that part of history.
8. Re:what are the exit policies of the army? by UseTheSource · 2009-01-26 05:41 · Score: 0, Offtopic
  
  I could care less what you think of my sig. I'll even go so far as to say that, unlike "The One", I could also care less what Europeans think about us or the way we do things.
  
  Hitler was given 'temporary' emergency powers during a contrived crisis... Keep in mind we do have a provision in the US Constitution for martial law, and all it would take would be a sufficient 'crisis' to have a reason to invoke it. Of course that is extremely unlikely, and also unnecessary, since the "checks and balances" in place can also be subverted if all three branches of government are pushing the same agenda.
  
  --
  "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer." -Adolf Hitler
  "We are one Nation, we are one People." -The One 'leader'
9. Re:what are the exit policies of the army? by kabocox · 2009-01-26 06:03 · Score: 1
  
  I would have thought so, too, until I spent a few years in the US military. You'd be amazed how much and what kind of stuff makes it past policies (exit or otherwise). When I lived in a military town, it seems like I'd see a story every year or so about about service members getting caught with garages full of new and/or used stuff.
  Those are only the guys that they catch. Imagine being in that environment and knowing how to really cover your tracks or to surplus some stuff and have a local base garage sale where its been posted on base and base folks show up and spend bottom dollar on slightly used or near new stuff. I'm sure that happens far more than anyone's aware of and is considered a perk of being employed or in the know of certain organizations. I think that its wasteful to be throwing away/surplussing/upgrading anything that others would want.
  I work at a local PD. Trust me the crap that we finally get rid of is so old/used that even the stuff in perfect unused condition is still 10 years old. (I hate knowing that some nameless individual has had a laptop for 10 years and it's been listed that they spend $3K on the thing and it looks like they never really booted the thing on. It's trash when we can't install anything current on the Win95 laptop though.) Stuff like that you are happy to have some one buy an entire lot of for $20. Heck, if you want to buy a replacement battery for most older laptops that'll cost at least $150 right there.
  I'd be amazed at useful stuff that actually makes it out of local government offices. We don't surplus anything "current" or half way usable.
10. Re:what are the exit policies of the army? by The+Spoonman · 2009-01-26 06:24 · Score: 1, Flamebait
  
  Don't worry about it too much. The morons who equate Obama with Hitler are a very small and ignorant minority that we've flushed out of power. They're generally the same people who supported vehemently our previous President's predilection for removing rights from our citizens, and are clueless that the US does not exist in a vacuum on this planet. We're going to be rebuilding our education infrastructure so we will hopefully no longer produce these types of embarrassments.
  
  --
  Which is more painful? Going to work or gouging your eye out with a spoon? Find out!
  http://www.workorspoon.com
11. Re:what are the exit policies of the army? by Frosty+Piss · 2009-01-26 06:34 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  Banning the devices without an equally convenient alternative will just result in people finding workarounds. Just don't be surprised what those workarounds are. Interfere with people Getting Stuff Done(tm) without educating them on How to Get Stuff Done without X...
  This is the case with the current ban on thumb drives. For example, after years of being told we're moving electronic, the AF base I'm at switched to electronic crew pubs and forms, and other mission data from flights is built on board the aircraft, saved on a thumb drive, and downloaded to a system back home after the mission. There are work-arounds, but an entire system built on technology we can no longer use is an inconvenience that lends itself to unapproved / undocumented workarounds with even more security questions. We've always used government supplied thumb drives, but now a lot of people just (surreptitiously) use (more unknown) personal drives.
  
  --
  If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
12. Re:what are the exit policies of the army? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 07:32 · Score: 1, Interesting
  
  Eh while equating anyone to Hitler is a stretch, it was a bit unnerving to see hundreds of thousands of people chant his mantra ("change") in comparison to the "Heils" of yesteryear. And no I'm not from America.
13. Re:what are the exit policies of the army? by eleuthero · 2009-01-26 08:12 · Score: 1
  
  I am from America and I honestly found the European depiction of Obama the more ... unnerving. On a recent trip, Obama was in one paper (German) depicted as having a halo (via special effects and not the cheap drawn-in ones), in another described as a demi-god and savior (French) and in another described as a messiah (Belgian-French). Americans aren't alone in uplifting any one individual to a place of too much significance.
14. Re:what are the exit policies of the army? by pnevin · 2009-01-26 13:07 · Score: 1
  
  I'd be less worried about petty theft in that case as I would about getting shot, to be honest.
  Two Australians were shot dead in the Netherlands by the IRA back in the early 1990's. They'd apparently been mistaken for off-duty British soldiers as they were driving the same type of car as they usually drove.
15. Re:what are the exit policies of the army? by DelgadoRandom · 2009-01-26 13:53 · Score: 1
  
  Yipes! That's so much worse! That's probably why Reserve US Army personnel are directed to hide affiliation when utilizing civilian air transport internationally - as opposed to active duty personnel flying domestically to and from leave. That freaking sucks! Those kids should be able to get free beer, not dodge bullets.
Do it Chris Ogle! by Eddy+Luten · 2009-01-26 02:36 · Score: 3, Funny

Chris Ogle says he will return the unit to the US Defence Department if asked
They will also be able to conveniently download the contents on Wikileaks.org in 4.. 3.. 2.. 1..
1. Re:Do it Chris Ogle! by von_rick · 2009-01-26 03:01 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  in 4.. 3.. 2.. 1..
  NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition! Amongst our weaponry are such diverse elements as: fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, , and nice red uniforms!
  
  --
  Face your daemons!
2. Re:Do it Chris Ogle! by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 03:20 · Score: 0
  
  And I thought posting it on wikileaks was HOW he wanted to return the data... ;-)
3. Re:Do it Chris Ogle! by L4t3r4lu5 · 2009-01-26 03:41 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  No papal fanaticism?
  
  Splitters!
  
  --
  Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
4. Re:Do it Chris Ogle! by Joe+the+Lesser · 2009-01-26 04:25 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  Bloody hell, we'll come in again...
  
  --
  "I only speak the truth"
  Karma: null(Mostly affected by an unassigned variable)
5. Re:Do it Chris Ogle! by omuls+are+tasty · 2009-01-26 05:03 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Slashdot mods don't get Monty Python references? Dang it, the times they are a-changin...
6. Re:Do it Chris Ogle! by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 05:13 · Score: 0
  
  Or they get but perhaps... Just perhaps... They are beginning to appreciate less and less when dozens of people always post the same quotes from the same movies that we have all seen. They are offtopic, after all. I personally consider funny mod to be for comments that are funny, clever and RELEVANT TO THE SUBJECT.
  For example, when there was speculation about MS dropping Zune, someone commented something like "Yeah, they should stick to what they are good at: OSes. Oh, wait..." and I thought that it deserved it's funny status. However, I don't think that every single comment that has some obvious Monty Python reference after several others have already made MP references deserves automatically the +5 status they seem to always get.
  tl;dr Fuck you and your children too.
7. Re:Do it Chris Ogle! by commodoresloat · 2009-01-26 05:23 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  We don't get Monty Python references, and you expect us to get a Bob Dylan one?
8. Re:Do it Chris Ogle! by SubtleGuest · 2009-01-26 09:05 · Score: 0, Flamebait
  
  Cannot agree more. Many times I can hardly bring myself to read the comments because I can always expect the socially retarded slashdotters to trot out page after page of the Same Damn Shit. In soviet russia..., anything about Microsoft brings talk of Ballmer throwing chairs, etc. At least get with the times, and learn some new memes. If you don't understand comedy, just stay home. Please.
9. Re:Do it Chris Ogle! by slashtivus · 2009-01-26 15:20 · Score: 1
  
  You forgot the 'comfy chair'.
10. Re:Do it Chris Ogle! by Larryish · 2009-01-26 16:20 · Score: 1
  
  The player might be a Sony Walkman MP3 player.
  I have one of those and it won't work with stock mp3 files. The proprietary app that comes with it is slow, buggy, prone to constant crashes, and tries to limit the number of machines you can load music from.
  If anyone has a USB Walkman, the application you need to use to load music is a 3rd party freeware app called "voidmp3fm".
  It runs very well under WINE, btw.
And the previous owner was? by El+Torico · 2009-01-26 02:42 · Score: 5, Insightful

The Army should ask for the return of the MP3 player (and pay for it), find out who put the files on it, and punish them. I don't expect that to happen.

--
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is usually crucified.
1. Re:And the previous owner was? by houghi · 2009-01-26 02:46 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Most likely they will try to punish the current owner.
  
  --
  Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
2. Re:And the previous owner was? by Linuss · 2009-01-26 02:48 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  Yes yes, brand him a traitor and try to get him extradited to Texas so they can sentence him to death.
3. Re:And the previous owner was? by rbrausse · 2009-01-26 02:48 · Score: 1
  
  what will not happen? Paying, investigating or punishing?
  I don't even dare to give odds for any of the three possabilities...
4. Re:And the previous owner was? by A.+B3ttik · 2009-01-26 02:48 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  I really doubt that the US Army is going to try and punish an innocent New Zealander for trying to do the right thing.
  
  Although I guess I'm not sure that announcing this to the news was "the right thing."
5. Re:And the previous owner was? by oldspewey · 2009-01-26 03:01 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  I'm not sure that announcing this to the news was "the right thing."
  I think it was. Divulging the specific contents of the device might be inappropriate, but letting the world know about a screwup like this is most certainly "the right thing."
  
  --
  If libertarians are so opposed to effective government, why don't they all move to Somalia?
6. Re:And the previous owner was? by jandrese · 2009-01-26 03:03 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  My guess is that like so much stuff found in second hand shops near bases, the MP3 player was stolen from the previous owner and sold for beer money. The files on it probably weren't classified or particularly sensitive and the previous owner was using it as a fancy thumb drive.
  
  --
  
  I read the internet for the articles.
7. Re:And the previous owner was? by stewbacca · 2009-01-26 03:04 · Score: 1
  
  Punish them for what? Is it illegal to keep names and information of unclassified material on your personal computer /mp3 players? At worst, it's FOUO (for official use only) information. While it could reflect on your performance evaluation negatively, there is nothing illegal about the release of FOUO information.
8. Re:And the previous owner was? by Big+Hairy+Ian · 2009-01-26 03:17 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  Punish them for what? Is it illegal to keep names and information of unclassified material on your personal computer /mp3 players? At worst, it's FOUO (for official use only) information. While it could reflect on your performance evaluation negatively, there is nothing illegal about the release of FOUO information.
  If it contains the names & details of armed forces personnel it could very well be defined as a national security breach. The fact it contains a mission briefing & details of equipment would pretty much seal that one.
  
  --
  Build a Man a Fire, and He'll Be Warm for a Day. Set a Man on Fire, and He'll Be Warm for the Rest of His Life.
9. Re:And the previous owner was? by evilkasper · 2009-01-26 03:19 · Score: 1
  
  Names and details about soldiers do fall into FOUO, however the article does mention a mission briefing and equipment list. Depending on the details found in the mission brief and the equipment list that could go beyond FOUO and into a classification that could get someone into a good amount of trouble. Banning removable devices is all well and good, but enforcing it is another thing, unless they disable the USB ports on the towers I don't see how this can be realistically enforced.
10. Re:And the previous owner was? by whisper_jeff · 2009-01-26 03:21 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  "I really doubt that the US Army is going to try and punish an innocent New Zealander for trying to do the right thing."
  
  Unfortunately, "doing the right thing" does not protect one from bureaucrats. When someone in a suit wants someone punished, they will find a target, even if it happens to be the person who did "the right thing." My favourite example of this was a woman who worked for a mid-sized company as an accountant. She noticed something questionable on the books and reported it to her boss. Her boss told her to ignore it and proceed. She knew that her boss was dodging the IRS and, not wanting to be a party to tax evasion, she reported the company to the IRS and quit. The IRS began an investigation and found, sure enough, the company was illegally avoiding paying taxes. The company, of course, used every method to dodge the IRS. The IRS, having lost their obvious target, decided to use a different tactic and elected to go after the accountant who was working for the company at the time the questionable events took place.
  
  The woman who reported the situation to them.
  
  The IRS ceased her home and garnished her wages (from her new job) to pay off the outstanding taxes. Doing the right thing resulted in this woman being screwed, to say the least.
  
  Yes, this is an extreme example and it's also an example of the old IRS (they've apparently had their power to abuse people reduced since then - this story took place ten or 15 years ago, iirc). But, it is still an example of someone doing the right thing yet still being turned into a target so that someone in a suit can punish _someone_.
11. Re:And the previous owner was? by Gandalf_Greyhame · 2009-01-26 03:22 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  I am just trying to work this out. How is a New Zealand citizen able to commit treason against the US?
  treason: (noun) the crime of betraying one's country
  
  --
  I am not stubborn. I am right!
12. Re:And the previous owner was? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 03:23 · Score: 0
  
  Or.. they can provide him with a free trip to Guantanamo (all inclusive) before Tomorrow to ask him some quick questions.
13. Re:And the previous owner was? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 03:24 · Score: 0
  
  Which is why he should say "to hell with them". After all, it's not his problem anyway. In this age of superpower government, why did he even consider opening his mouth?
14. Re:And the previous owner was? by No+Grand+Plan · 2009-01-26 03:26 · Score: 2
  
  The files on it probably weren't classified or particularly sensitive
  I'd say names coupled with locations and mission briefings were pretty sensitive, wouldn't you? I don't expect there were any missile launch codes on the player, but still - these pieces of information could have been used for the wrong purpose and could potentially have done harm.
15. Re:And the previous owner was? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 03:29 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Because you're either with us or you're with the terrorists. Didn't you get that memo?
16. Re:And the previous owner was? by Linuss · 2009-01-26 03:32 · Score: 0, Offtopic
  
  Exactly.
  Newsflash Gandalf, humor isn't dead.
17. Re:And the previous owner was? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 03:33 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  Link or it didn't happen
18. Re:And the previous owner was? by furby076 · 2009-01-26 03:34 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  You don't think the army punishes people for violating secure data storage and usage? While slashdot is well-known for it's pessimistic view on life and thinks that every situation requires a tin foil hat you should a LITTLE more faith.
  By bringing this to the attention of the DoD they can determine what needs to be done with the MP3 player (most likely buy it from the person). The army takes a very dim view on allowing the names of its personnel leaking to the world. They are very protective about their soldiers. Plus they want to make sure the mission is not sensitive (it could be an old, declassified mission).
  If they can ascertain who owned the mp3 player they will most likely have some words with him, and depending on the reasoning behind him putting data on the mp3 player and the other information on it they will determine what to do.
  The army spends a LOT of money and a LOT of time securing their data - everyone knows this, especially the slashdot crew. Taking that into consideration to say the army will do very little if anything is a bit of a stretch on your part.
  
  --
  
  I do not support "The Man". I also do not support your irrational stupidity
19. Re:And the previous owner was? by Thelasko · 2009-01-26 03:42 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  This would also make a good cover for spies.
  
  It works like this:
  1. Spy fills MP3 player with classified information.
  2. Spy drops off MP3 player at local second hand shop.
  3. Handler buys MP3 player.
  4. Profit!
  
  --
  One of our competitors trademarked the term "hypothesis". From now on, we will call them "boneheaded ideas".
20. Re:And the previous owner was? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 03:49 · Score: 0
  
  I know a woman that that happened too, almost exactly as you detail. I also know first hand that she was the one that did it and even though she had quit and reported it after investigating the IRS did in fact come after her. Also if it's the same person you forgot the criminal charges she was met with when they also discovered her embezzlement!
21. Re:And the previous owner was? by dotancohen · 2009-01-26 03:52 · Score: 1
  
  If it contains the names & details of armed forces personnel it could very well be defined as a national security breach. The fact it contains a mission briefing & details of equipment would pretty much seal that one.
  All that is available on wikipedia anyway. What do you want to know about the M16 that isn't freely available?
  
  --
  It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
22. Re:And the previous owner was? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 03:56 · Score: 0
  
  Only temporarily. In most cases, after the mission is complete, that information would be mostly worthless.
23. Re:And the previous owner was? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 04:05 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  I knew that woman too! Except it was a man and he was wrongly accused of murder except that the one arm man did it. Then, funny story, they find out he paid the one arm man to do it.
24. Re:And the previous owner was? by jandrese · 2009-01-26 04:07 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Wouldn't it be easier to just hide it somewhere (out in the woods for instance) instead of involving a third person who could potentially id both of you if the army comes looking?
  
  --
  
  I read the internet for the articles.
25. Re:And the previous owner was? by TheVelvetFlamebait · 2009-01-26 04:14 · Score: 1
  
  I believe the equivalent for foreigners is "an act of war".
  
  --
  You know, there is a difference between trolling and pointing out the flaws in your reasoning. Just saying.
26. Re:And the previous owner was? by MadMidnightBomber · 2009-01-26 04:16 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  The IRS ceased her home and garnished her wages
  That usage sounds weird to this European - like I'd end up with a sprig of rosemary and a bit of orange peel in my pay packet, or something.
  
  --
  "It doesn't cost enough, and it makes too much sense."
27. Re:And the previous owner was? by whisper_jeff · 2009-01-26 04:25 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  Given that I saw it on 60 Minutes (or some such show) about ten years ago, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a link...
28. Re:And the previous owner was? by Linuss · 2009-01-26 04:34 · Score: 0
  
  Theres no need to mod me down because you don't get a joke gandalf. seriously now.
29. Re:And the previous owner was? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 04:38 · Score: 0
  
  That's dumb. If they'd seized her home instead of ceasing it, they could've sold it. Even the current market prices, homes are worth more than empty lots.
30. Re:And the previous owner was? by sjames · 2009-01-26 04:48 · Score: 1
  
  There are a few 'pawn shops' out there that specialize in having a bad memory. While the woods does avoid a certain third party, the 'pawn shop' has the advantage of covering a big crime up by making it look like a believable petty crime.
  Odds are it is a petty crime, but it's worth looking in to anyway.
31. Re:And the previous owner was? by Thelasko · 2009-01-26 04:52 · Score: 1
  
  Wouldn't it be easier to just hide it somewhere (out in the woods for instance) instead of involving a third person who could potentially id both of you if the army comes looking?
  To be fair, a third person could stumble upon it no matter where it's hidden. If there is a stream of stuff at second hand stores near military bases, as the GGP posted, they might think it's more inconspicuous than taking trips to the woods, etc.
  
  To be honest, if I were such a spy, I would at least give the files a .mp3 extension. I don't know how spies work, but it's still plausible.
  
  --
  One of our competitors trademarked the term "hypothesis". From now on, we will call them "boneheaded ideas".
32. Re:And the previous owner was? by Unnngh! · 2009-01-26 04:58 · Score: 1
  
  You missed a step: ???
33. Re:And the previous owner was? by Brad_McBad · 2009-01-26 05:00 · Score: 1
  
  Nope. Only if has the power to legally declare war on behalf of his country. He's done nothing wrong under New Zealand law, excepting any crazy treaties. If the US wants to do something to him then they have to prove he violated their law within their sovereign territory, then try to get him extradited.
  
  I'm kinda hoping the current president isn't the kind of guy to declare war over a second hand iPod...
34. Re:And the previous owner was? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 05:08 · Score: 0
  
  Yes, because everything, everywhere, is happening on the interwebs.
35. Re:And the previous owner was? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 05:15 · Score: 0
  
  Agreed, link it or give some reference. This sounds absurd to me since I am a tax accountant. I would guess that there is some material fact(s) being left out of this case relative to the accountant's role. Or it's just entirely false. I've seen my share of shadiness with clients, so I'm going to have to question this story.
36. Re:And the previous owner was? by commodoresloat · 2009-01-26 05:25 · Score: 1
  
  The poster said "Texas." And, as far as Texans are concerned, New Zealand is part of Texas.
37. Re:And the previous owner was? by cffrost · 2009-01-26 05:30 · Score: 1
  
  It is oftentimes prudent to weigh the benefits of "doing the 'right' thing" against the costs of "snitches get stitches."
  
  --
  Thank you, Edward Snowden.
  
  "Arguments from authority are worthless." —Carl Sagan
38. Re:And the previous owner was? by Chih · 2009-01-26 05:30 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  See, that's why this guy waited until Bush was out of office :)
  
  --
  For best results, avoid doing stupid things.
39. Re:And the previous owner was? by kabocox · 2009-01-26 05:40 · Score: 1
  
  I am just trying to work this out. How is a New Zealand citizen able to commit treason against the US?
  treason: (noun) the crime of betraying one's country
  Cause everyone knows that New Zealand, Australia, and Great Britain are all secret US states. ;)
  If you want a more whimsical reason, it's because lots of US movies were made there so we've declared them a special kinda of state since all of our media gets made there now a days. ;)
  Do you really want the third reason? You won't like it. There are 50 US states and the average US citizen confuses Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and Britain as part of the English speaking states on the other side of us. Those on border states may know better, but pick a state that's several states away, and you'd be surprised/stunned how many confuse national states as US states.
  I can't even blame it on our educational system. When I was in HS, we had at least 4 geography/US/World history classes where they tried to pound in the US states and foreign states thing by making us name, color and make maps of each. Judging by the class scores back then, I can't say that I'm too surprised. We just happen to be stupid in the US.
40. Re:And the previous owner was? by wsanders · 2009-01-26 05:43 · Score: 1
  
  It was a friend of a friend!
  It's like a crackhead calling 911 to report their stash got stolen. What do you expect will happen?
  
  --
  Give a man a fish and you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish, and he'll say "WHERE'S MY FISH, YOU IDIOT?"
41. Re:And the previous owner was? by MBGMorden · 2009-01-26 05:53 · Score: 1
  
  Yes, because everything, everywhere, is happening on the interwebs.
  Doesn't have to be a web link. I'd settle for a newspaper reference, or ANYTHING that can be referenced aside from an "I heard about it one time from a buddy's sister's cousin" type account. As it is the whole story sounds very suspect. It very much has the sound of something that I'd expect to find debunked on Snopes.
  
  --
  "People who think they know everything are very annoying to those of us who do."-Mark Twain
42. Re:And the previous owner was? by GooberToo · 2009-01-26 05:53 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  If it happened that long ago it may very well be true. Many people don't realize, not so many years ago, the IRS had more power than the CIA or FBI and that changed only after significant IRS reform. IIRC, that changed under the Clinton Administration.
  Literally, not many years ago, if the IRS randomly decided you owed money, they would come in, seize all your accounts and assets. You would literal come home from work to find your crying family on the curb and your house boarded up. On arrival, your car would then be seized. You would then be expected to defend your self in rigged IRS court, where YOU had to prove the IRS was wrong, having no money, no house, no cars, and likely, no job. It was not uncommon for people arriving at IRS court to have left from living under a bridge or from other homeless outreach efforts. Employers and friends of these families were common threatened with like-action.
  Additionally, if they did discover an honest mistake, they could wait an indeterminate number of years to tell you about it and demand interest and penalties. So what may have been an honest thousand dollar mistake will now cost you your home and retirement account, and maybe even jail time. And did I mention IRS agents would get bonuses for collecting additional fees and properties so it was in their own interest for fuck you over?
  So while that specific situation may or may not have happened, rest assured the IRS has done significantly more to many more people who have done nothing but pay their taxes and done the right thing. And that's for a fact. It is far more likely the story is true than not. And if the story is not true, it is likely based on a composite of multiple true stories.
  If you don't want to believe this story, fine. But I urge you to search old news stories from the 70s - 90s for such stories. You'll readily find, the horror stories of the IRS are far, far worse.
43. Re:And the previous owner was? by El+Torico · 2009-01-26 06:00 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  I've been in the US Army and I've worked with the US Army for a few years, and I've never seen anyone punished (Article 15 or court martial, or even a counseling statement) for an Information Security violation.
  
  --
  In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is usually crucified.
44. Re:And the previous owner was? by Gogo0 · 2009-01-26 06:05 · Score: 1
  
  The act of using a personal device on the Army network was a violation of Army Regulation 25-2, a large document that DoD users agree to when they sign an Acceptable Use Policy prior to receiving a network account from their local DOIM (IT shop).
  The act of connecting the personal device to a government workstation makes it Army property, and punishment is usually decided by the user's CO or Director, and can range from a warning to being fired.
45. Re:And the previous owner was? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 06:17 · Score: 0
  
  Wouldnt it be easier to put it on a thumb drive and mail it to the other person? Just put on a fake mustache and drop it in the mailbox drops at the mall.
  It just wouldnt make a good Hollywood movie that way. Dont they have a formula that starts with: make a simple task unmanageably complex?
46. Re:And the previous owner was? by stewbacca · 2009-01-26 06:18 · Score: 1
  
  The act of using a personal device on the Army network was a violation of Army Regulation 25-2
  Hmmm, I keep seeing this assumption, but it's not stated in either article that the previous owner hooked up the mp3 player to a DoD computer. More likely, the guy did some work on his home computer, then uploaded it to his mp3 player. That's why I think this is a complete non-story.
47. Re:And the previous owner was? by WindBourne · 2009-01-26 06:21 · Score: 1
  
  Mistakes happen.
  
  --
  I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
48. Re:And the previous owner was? by raddan · 2009-01-26 06:30 · Score: 1
  
  seconded
49. Re:And the previous owner was? by Gogo0 · 2009-01-26 06:48 · Score: 1
  
  CLASSIFIED data is not allowed on a personal computer (in case the data was CLASSIFIED).
  I dont see anything about unclass material not being allowed, but think about it for a minute...
  Back before the USB media ban, information could be moved about on USB media with no enforcable restrictions. If the user took a DoD USB or CD with files on it to their home, why did they need to put it on an mp3 player? perhaps it was on a CD and they didnt have a cd burner to burn the updated files for transport back to work... why not email over AKO?
  perhaps they didnt have internet, thats fine. why put it on an mp3 player? DoD->home and home->DoD are equivalent. why not use an approved USB device in the first place? their mp3 player obviously had usb, so there is no limitation there.
  there is a lot of conjecture before we know any facts, but all signs point to a violation of AR25-2 in one way or another.
  anyway, there are personnel that do security investigations for a reason. they DO get to the bottom of stuff like this, and they are some of the most competent IT people in the Army.
50. Re:And the previous owner was? by smellsofbikes · 2009-01-26 06:54 · Score: 1
  
  That's a difficult situation to assess without seeing the actual books. What if she *was* the person who was making a mess of things: she, the accountant, was cooking the books, and claimed her boss was the one doing it when she called him in to the IRS? Consider the movie "The Shawshank Redemption".
  There are plenty of cases where the whistleblower is unjustly persecuted for pointing out problems, but there are also some where whistleblowing is a tactic to disguise malfeasance on the part of the whistleblower.
  My best friend's dad is an IRS special agent, one of the ones that gets issued government guns, and he's talked about this a little bit, enough for me to look at any story like this and say "we need more data before we can draw conclusions."
  
  --
  Nostalgia's not what it used to be.
51. Re:And the previous owner was? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 07:16 · Score: 0
  
  The same reason we have an American spy base on our soil.
52. Re:And the previous owner was? by geekboy642 · 2009-01-26 07:21 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  The most sophisticated weapon the united states military ever fielded was an M-16. Clearly, this iPod contained detailed technical schematics of this unbelievably powerful rifle. Also, every battalion publishes their entire enlisted roster on wikipedia every third saturday, so the Privacy Act doesn't matter either. Not to mention, mission details are routinely cribbed from bad Tom Clancy novels, so there couldn't be any important information there.
  It's all about the M-16, baby. Those dirty communists are gonna get their hands on our pop-gun!
  P.S. You're a moron.
  
  --
  Just another "DOJ fascist authoritarian totalitarian bootlicker" -- Zeio
53. Re:And the previous owner was? by redcaboodle · 2009-01-26 07:22 · Score: 1
  
  To be honest, if I were such a spy, I would at least give the files a .mp3 extension. I don't know how spies work, but it's still plausible.
  Are you kidding? Extraordinary rendition is not as bad as messing with the RIAA.
  
  --
  -- Put crudely, the world is an extremely large problem instance. (Russel/Norvig Artificial Intelligence)
54. Re:And the previous owner was? by Randle_Revar · 2009-01-26 07:40 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  >Because you're either with us or you're with the terrorists.
  Not since last Tuesday.
  
  --
  Climate Progress - Hell and High Water
55. Re:And the previous owner was? by jackspenn · 2009-01-26 07:47 · Score: 1
  
  If it never worked as an MP3 player, it is more likely that the data was placed there from a spy. I mean think about it Sherlock.
  
  --
  Respect the Constitution
56. Re:And the previous owner was? by plague3106 · 2009-01-26 07:58 · Score: 1
  
  Hmm... totally made up story I would say. As an employee, she wouldn't be liable for the taxes even if she was the reason they didn't get paid. Tax liability doesn't transfer like that at all.
57. Re:And the previous owner was? by jackspenn · 2009-01-26 08:07 · Score: 1
  
  What if it was used and then the device discarded. Then it gets picked up by uninvolved 3rd party and sold to second hand store.
  
  --
  Respect the Constitution
58. Re:And the previous owner was? by khellendros1984 · 2009-01-26 09:00 · Score: 1
  
  The only thing that sounds weird to me is "ceased" instead of "seized". Garnish has two definitions. In this case, it means "take a debtor's wages on legal orders, such as for child support".
  
  --
  It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
59. Re:And the previous owner was? by khellendros1984 · 2009-01-26 09:11 · Score: 1
  
  There are pieces of military equipment, the details of which should remain secret. The army is more than M16's and HMMWV's after all.
  
  --
  It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
60. Re:And the previous owner was? by MichaelSmith · 2009-01-26 09:11 · Score: 1
  
  A couple of years ago there was an incident where an Australian soldier accidentally shot himself at an army base in Iraq. The army sent an investigator to the site. On the way back home she mounted a CDROM containing the report in a public computer in the qantas business class lounge then walked away and forgot about it.
  
  The next person to use that system found the disk and gave it to staff but the media found out about it anyway.
  
  I work for a company which occasionally handles sensitive data. Anybody who travels for the company gets a laptop to use in the office, and at home, and when travelling. That way nothing has to leave the company system.
  
  Laptops are cheap. I don't know why our military can't work the same way.
  
  --
  http://michaelsmith.id.au
61. Re:And the previous owner was? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 09:17 · Score: 0
  
  Do you really want the third reason?
  
  Hell, I live in Montana & 90% of the country thinks we're part of Canada, so don't feel too bad.
  But as for why it would be treason? It was a joke.... ... but the Real reason can be summed up in two words...
  "Crocodile Dundee" ... 'nuff said.
62. Re:And the previous owner was? by khellendros1984 · 2009-01-26 09:17 · Score: 1
  
  If I'm not mistaken, there are removable device, Plug N Play and disk management services that could be disabled in Windows services to prevent usb drives from being read. Then, give the user non-admin access, and you're set. It should only be the security guys and upper IT people that should have access to installing software on a military machine that might handle sensitive or confidential data.
  
  --
  It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
63. Re:And the previous owner was? by dotancohen · 2009-01-26 09:25 · Score: 1
  
  P.S. You're a moron.
  A) I'm a dumbass, not a moron. Get it right.
  2) The point that I was making is that not all 'weapons schematics' are super top secret.
  IV) Personal attacks at other posters is not only being a dickwad, it is also called trolling.
  
  --
  It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
64. Re:And the previous owner was? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 09:29 · Score: 0
  
  It happens exactly as you described. Strange but true!
65. Re:And the previous owner was? by dotancohen · 2009-01-26 09:30 · Score: 1
  
  There are pieces of military equipment, the details of which should remain secret. The army is more than M16's and HMMWV's after all.
  Neither you nor I know what was on that drive. The point that I was making is that not all military information is top secret, nor should it be assumed to be.
  
  --
  It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
66. Re:And the previous owner was? by Petrushka · 2009-01-26 10:41 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  I really doubt that the US Army is going to try and punish an innocent New Zealander for trying to do the right thing.
  Not punish, as such, no. But he has had access to information that the US didn't want him to have. I would imagine red flags will be popping up next to his name for quite a long time: he should be very very circumspect if he ever has to go through US immigration, for the foreseeable future.
  
  Although I guess I'm not sure that announcing this to the news was "the right thing."
  He gave a copy of the files to the local news, according to the TVNZ article.
67. Re:And the previous owner was? by d474 · 2009-01-26 10:45 · Score: 1
  
  Link or it didn't happen
  I want you as my defense attorney.
  
  --
  Authority questions you. Return the favor.
68. Re:And the previous owner was? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 11:21 · Score: 0
  
  A spy would leave the evidence and then sell the mp3 player? Well Sherlock, it's obvious that you didn't think about it.
69. Re:And the previous owner was? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 11:21 · Score: 0
  
  That probably sounds weird to you because it is wrong. Cease is generally only used transitively with gerunds or nouns derived from verbs (e.g. production, payment). Also, cease is also only used reflexively: it is unlikely that the IRS will cease payment of someone's wages, because the IRS is not paying said wages in the first place. A better choice would probably have been the verb stop [see def. 5a]. /end pedantry
70. Re:And the previous owner was? by Gogo0 · 2009-01-26 11:24 · Score: 1
  
  any time that we have people leaving work on a business trip, we ship them off with a laptop and instructions on how to use the VPN.
  thats the plan, but we cant control the user when they want to do stupid things...
71. Re:And the previous owner was? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 11:51 · Score: 0
  
  Yeah. Now you can be with us AND with the terrorists! Aren't you happy?!
72. Re:And the previous owner was? by yenne · 2009-01-26 12:04 · Score: 1
  
  T2FA states: The files that the numbers were located in are marked with a warning saying the release of its contents is "prohibited by federal law".
  How enforceable is this? Might he actually be liable for releasing the information to news agencies? Is it any different than accidentally being copied on an e-mail stating that it's a crime to release the contents of the e-mail if you're not the intended recipient?
  Are any of those disclaimers enforceable anyway?
73. Re:And the previous owner was? by Ihmhi · 2009-01-26 12:17 · Score: 1
  
  He's not treasonous, he's a "person of interest" who will go for an "interview" in a CIA "resort".
  I hear they have jacuzzis! Well, something with bubbling water.
  
  --
  Random Thoughts From A Diseased Mind (Not For Dummies)
74. Re:And the previous owner was? by Fluffeh · 2009-01-26 14:22 · Score: 0
  
  The IRS ceased her home
  Oh, did they really. Her house just stopped did it? I find that very hard to believe. When it just ceased, did it vanish out of the timeline within the blink of an eye, or was it a more gradual swirling effect?
  
  If you are old enough to remember a story from ten years ago and you memory still serves you well enough to recall it on a whim of connection to this article about the US army - then you certainly are a candidate to recognize and distinguish the two words: seized, ceased.
  
  Don't come back until you have learned a lesson and feel at least somewhat ashamed.
  
  --
  Moved to http://soylentnews.org/. You are invited to join us too!
75. Re:And the previous owner was? by Fluffeh · 2009-01-26 14:27 · Score: 1
  
  Well call me the odd one out here, but to me, you can't have a disclaimer that MANDATES agreement, ergo - You are in possession of a file and you cannot do a)xxx, b)xxxxx or c)xxxxx with it. I didn't agree to your disclaimer before I got your stuff, so I am not bound by any contract or agreement. I can however still obey if I CHOOSE to do so.
  
  --
  Moved to http://soylentnews.org/. You are invited to join us too!
76. Re:And the previous owner was? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 15:06 · Score: 0
  
  Read "The Confessions of a Tax Collector" and you'll have no problem believeing all this. It's very, very recent that scientologists were able to screw with IRS and win. 15 years ago they would have had zero chances.
77. Re:And the previous owner was? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 23:49 · Score: 0
  
  The more things change, man, the more they remain the same.
  It's change you can believe in; a continuation of the fantasy.
  It's not change that hurts, or change that works, or change that improves the lot of the working majority....
  It's just change for you to suspend your disbelief to.
They Should purchase it back by ITJC68 · 2009-01-26 02:54 · Score: 5, Interesting

If the military is not smart enough to purchase this item from the person and investigate how and who placed those files on this player then security is an afterthought and obviously flawed. This type of information couldn't have been obtained by a low level recruit either but someone higher in the chain of command. Either the FBI or the CIA should look into this without military oversight so there is no chance of influence. I doubt it will happen but I hope they do.
1. Re:They Should purchase it back by SpitfireSMS · 2009-01-26 03:00 · Score: 1
  
  I agree, but i dunno about the FBI or CIA.
  They should just figure out which officer's MP3 player it was and question him about what other kinds of security he may have accidentally released to the public.
  And also, if the information was about a mission that was put into action long ago, it may not have any real value to anyone anyway. It doesnt seem like there should be much alarm in this case, but it does raise questions about security in general.
2. Re:They Should purchase it back by stewbacca · 2009-01-26 03:11 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  That is such an over-the-top reaction. First of all, this sort of thing happens to the magnitude of thousands of times a year. Check any E5 in the Army, and they've got a green "leaders" book with all kinds of personal information about their squad members. In the electronic age, all this stuff is also on their personal computers.
3. Re:They Should purchase it back by Dysproxia · 2009-01-26 03:46 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  I also happen to have several low-cost memory devices that contain what might or might not be top secret US military data. I'll gladly offer them for purchase.
4. Re:They Should purchase it back by furby076 · 2009-01-26 03:46 · Score: 1
  
  1) Gov't spends way too much money/time on security for anyone to claim they don't care about it
  2) Considering how people always complain the military is extremely secrative about it's actions, including the /. crew, your statement is less "interesting" then the mods who gave you points think it is. It's more "i want to bitch at someone because that's all I can do" comments.
  3) The DoD has it's own legal system and investigative staff. It uses rules/laws that are not the same as the rules/laws the general public has to deal with. So the FBI will not be involved unless the President specifically orders it to happen - 99% sure that it will not happen. Normally the CIA would not get involved but since someone from anotehr country bought this mp3 player there is a chance...but again, unless the President orders it to happen it will not be the case.
  
  Guess what - the military is big enough that it can give an impartial investigation and court proceedings on it's own people - and guess what - it does this ALL the time.
  
  So you don't have to doubt they will do their own investigation and you don't have to hope they won't. They will do it - nothing new here.
  
  --
  
  I do not support "The Man". I also do not support your irrational stupidity
5. Re:They Should purchase it back by MadMidnightBomber · 2009-01-26 04:17 · Score: 0
  
  Even worse, /dev/urandom on my computer contains ALL secret US military data. I'm certainly going to do a 3 pass wipe before I chuck this machine away.
  
  --
  "It doesn't cost enough, and it makes too much sense."
6. Re:They Should purchase it back by andereandre · 2009-01-26 05:23 · Score: 1
  
  no, this is clearly a copyright infringement of data belonging to the army. So send in the RIAA! (I would prefer the Spanish Inquisition but that silly BHO outlawed torture).
7. Re:They Should purchase it back by sumdumass · 2009-01-26 06:30 · Score: 1
  
  Unfortunately, it has information on service members too. Perhaps someone can place the service members as conducting the mission and then effected groups (the ones the missions went after) could use that information to retaliate on their families or them directly later down the road.
  That's an extreme possibility when we are fighting with terrorists which I think still makes it dangerous even if the mission info is outdated.
They will be punished by MikeRT · 2009-01-26 02:54 · Score: 2, Informative

The military has already begun a comprehensive policy of prohibiting these devices for this very reason after that worm went through a bunch of military systems because of infected key drives.
1. Re:They will be punished by shentino · 2009-01-26 03:49 · Score: 1
  
  Windows Autoplay was a major aggravating factor in that case.
  Since you can't trust everything that's on a removable storage device, ESPECIALLY one that's rewritable, automatically executing it is just plain stupid.
  You wouldn't execute a random binary you downloaded off the web, so why should your computer simply autoplay a random-ass flash drive?
2. Re:They will be punished by ptbarnett · 2009-01-26 05:48 · Score: 1
  
  Windows Autoplay was a major aggravating factor in that case.
  Which is why I turn off auto-play on every one of my Windows computers, and advise everyone within earshot to do the same.
  Tweak UI is a Microsoft "Power Toy" that allows you to turn off auto-play on all devices easily. There might be a way to do it without the power toy, but I don't know it off-hand.
  Unfortunately, it's only available for Windows XP. I've read that someone has developed a similar utility with nearly equivalent functionality for Vista, but I don't use Vista.
3. Re:They will be punished by legirons · 2009-01-26 08:11 · Score: 1
  
  The military has already begun a comprehensive policy of prohibiting these devices for this very reason after that worm went through a bunch of military systems because of infected key drives.
  not because of Windows then?
4. Re:They will be punished by nosfucious · 2009-01-26 09:07 · Score: 1
  
  Security Policy.
  Local Security Policy (gpedit.msc) for, 2000 Professional, Windows XP Professional or Vista Business. Or the server versions thereof.
  I Think tweakUI is the only way to do this with the "home" (aka toy) versions of Windows.
  For the Domain, then you have Domain Policy. I disable autorun, on all drives, on my domains. I can't think of a single reason to ever enable it. I've never had a single helpdesk call about "how do I install 'x'". Users quite happily live witout it.
  Trend Micro (et al) have viruses listed that leave "autorun.inf" in network drives. It's not just removable drives that can have viruses on them.
  
  --
  Q:I was listening to a CD in Grip and it sounded horrible! What's up? A:Perhaps you are listening to country music
Daily occurrence by mseeger · 2009-01-26 02:55 · Score: 4, Insightful

Hi,
i would expect this to happen on a daily basis. Usually the buyer will not be a journalist but some kid. The typical kid will say "boring stuff" and have those files deleted before finishing yawning. By doing so, they prevent more security leaks than most security officers.
Sincerly yours, Martin
1. Re:Daily occurrence by Yvanhoe · 2009-01-26 03:00 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  But this happened so many time that it became prevalent and finally, someone with more insight got his hands on one. The performance of a security officer is not measured by the number of leaks he prevented, but by the number of leaks he let go...
  
  --
  The Wise adapts himself to the world. The Fool adapts the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the Fool.
2. Re:Daily occurrence by DigiShaman · 2009-01-26 13:01 · Score: 1
  
  The typical kid will say "boring stuff" and have those files deleted before finishing yawning.
  I hate to break it to ya, but this is no longer the 80s. We live in a time where kids have their own MySpace page. What kid wouldn't post that shit online for bragging rights?!
  
  --
  Life is not for the lazy.
so? by genik76 · 2009-01-26 02:56 · Score: 1

What's the big deal? The mission is probably over anyway, I could surely come up with name of 60 US soldiers using the Internet if I wanted to, and even Wikipedia is full of information on the US Army equipment.
1. Re:so? by A.+B3ttik · 2009-01-26 03:01 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  It would be really funny if some guy did just that and faked a bunch of mission briefings, put it on his secondhand mp3 player, then sold it to a pawn shop.
  
  Next guy who buys it does the right thing and returns it, but the Army/CIA spend countless resources running in circles looking for the "leak."
2. Re:so? by furby076 · 2009-01-26 03:53 · Score: 1
  
  The DoD has to look at it and see if:
  1) If the mission is over and if it is not the mission may be compromised...meaning people's lives are at stake
  2) It's one thing to google someone's name, its another thing to have a gov't confirmed list. Even worse if it says what they do "Sniper team leader, John Doe....Mission: Assassinate XYZ dictator"... Not only is the mission compromised, but if XYZ dictator finds out he may pay someone off to target John Doe and his family. The army takes the confidentiality of it's soldiers to be a very serious issue.
  3) If the equipment is highly classified (e.g. some new technology) do you really want the enemy getting a look?
  
  We don't know exactly what is on it. Also, even if the information is trivial (the names are not), it could be part of a larger issue where some people in the DoD are putting information on mediums not authorized...and worse, accidentally distributing to non-authorized personnel...who in this case happen to be in another country!
  
  --
  
  I do not support "The Man". I also do not support your irrational stupidity
3. Re:so? by KeX3 · 2009-01-26 04:04 · Score: 1
  
  1) If the mission is over and if it is not the mission may be compromised...meaning people's lives are at stake
  Yes, because having your life at stake SURELY wasn't in the job description when you signed up as a soldier! Seriously, it just said "drive jeeps and eat cookies", nothing about this risking of lives when killing other people-business!
4. Re:so? by rebel13 · 2009-01-26 05:19 · Score: 1
  
  Just because the job is dangerous doesn't make it excusable for incompetents to make it even more so through violations of information security protocols.
What would you do? by mwilliamson · 2009-01-26 03:00 · Score: 4, Insightful

Seriously, I'd just overwrite the device with a utility such as dban then keep my mouth shut, forever. This is the advice I'd offer anyone in this sort of situation. I actually take it a step further in that I dban _every_ used storage device I get without first looking to see what is on it, so I have no clue if I ever received something via a second-hand device that I should not have.
1. Re:What would you do? by SpitfireSMS · 2009-01-26 03:03 · Score: 1
  
  Its not about what the guy did with the player.
  He obviously did the right thing, instead of trying to sell it to the Russians.
  The issue is more of why someone thought it was ok to put this information on an MP3 player of all things, and then sell it without even trying to delete anything.
2. Re:What would you do? by Bromskloss · 2009-01-26 03:07 · Score: 1
  
  He obviously did the right thing, instead of trying to sell it to the Russians.
  You bring up an interesting point! What he did was not the right thing, if you ask the Russians. You know, in Soviet Russia, what he did... ah... no.
  
  --
  Swedish plasma phys. PhD student; MSc EE; knows maths, programming, electronics; finance interest; seeks opportunities
3. Re:What would you do? by L4t3r4lu5 · 2009-01-26 03:51 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  A guy in my local (sorry, no citations) was sent an indecant image of (obviously) a child, and called teh police. They duely arrived, took a look at it, and took the guy out of the room.
  
  "Ok Sir, i'm going to go out the front door and close it behind me. Before I knock on your door again, that picture will have been deleted from your computer and you'll have forgotten about it. IF you mention it, i'll have to arrest you for posession of an indecent image of a minor."
  
  Even the cops think things like this are best swept under the carpet.
  
  Disclaimer: UK Law, YMMV
  
  --
  Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
4. Re:What would you do? by Petaris · 2009-01-26 03:57 · Score: 1
  
  We received some donated computers from the US Army Corps of Engineers and one of them hadn't even been wiped even though the tag on it said the drive was degaussed. I wiped the drive with DBAN and called them up to let them know. They thanked me and said it wasn't a big deal as none of the donated computers had access to classified info as they physically destroy those drives. Still kind of eerie as all the rest had been wiped. I have also found a few CDs in the drives including gov branded win XP disks and even a gov branded active@kill disk. I work for a school and before any drive leaves here it gets autonuked with DBAN. Better safe then sorry with student records. :)
  
  --
  ~Petaris "The world is open. Are you?"
5. Re:What would you do? by Thanshin · 2009-01-26 04:38 · Score: 1
  
  I actually take it a step further in that I dban _every_ used storage device I get without first looking to see what is on it, so I have no clue if I ever received something via a second-hand device that I should not have.
  At least now you have a written declaration to show your torturer. Maybe he'll believe that.
6. Re:What would you do? by DigitAl56K · 2009-01-26 05:27 · Score: 1
  
  That assumes you can dban it. If it was an MTP-only device you might have difficulty.
7. Re:What would you do? by mwilliamson · 2009-01-26 10:26 · Score: 1
  
  ...possession is 9/10th of the law.
What an idiot! by tyroneking · 2009-01-26 03:03 · Score: 1, Interesting

Why did he come out and admit this? The US will either try to extradite him or ban him from entering the US again. And the poor soldier responsible will get shafted too. For what? Just wipe the drive and pretend it never happened moron.
1. Re:What an idiot! by NewbieProgrammerMan · 2009-01-26 03:26 · Score: 1
  
  And the poor soldier responsible will get shafted too. For what?
  Err, he/she will get "shafted" for putting at risk a bunch of people's personal information, as well as information about equipment and a mission, maybe? Would you be thrilled if this genius had dumped your info onto an MP3 and sold it to some random stranger?
  If somebody was stupid enough to load a bunch of other people's info onto some personal storage device, then apparently somebody *needs* to smack them upside the head and tell them not to do that any more.
  
  --
  [b.belong('us') for b in bases if b.owner() == 'you']
2. Re:What an idiot! by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 03:54 · Score: 0
  
  I think more likely is that the mp3 player was stolen from the original owner's car or something like that, then hocked for crack at the local pawnshop. This has happened to me with my laptop and I wonder who got hold of it and if any of my files were still intact, or if since it was uberprotected with a password (win2K), the seller or eventual buyer just wiped the drive and reinstalled something else (which is what I hope happened).
3. Re:What an idiot! by socsoc · 2009-01-26 04:02 · Score: 1
  
  Because this is just the tip of the iceberg. I know IT folks in the armed forces that have been in Iraq and Afghanistan and it's just a mess. Hell, they still bring back physical artifacts, data is nowhere near as secure as it should be. You can't really disable everything because they are so far removed, but the front line takes advantage of that... it's a very fine line to try to walk.
4. Re:What an idiot! by NewbieProgrammerMan · 2009-01-26 05:10 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah, now that you mention it, that's probably more likely than the owner selling it. I imagine anybody with access to that sort of info knows how much hot water they'd be in if they didn't wipe something before they sold it.
  
  --
  [b.belong('us') for b in bases if b.owner() == 'you']
5. Re:What an idiot! by Gogo0 · 2009-01-26 06:22 · Score: 1
  
  While that sounds nice, it doesnt matter. Users on the DoD network sign AUPs that explicitly state personal devices cannot be used on DoD workstations. I also doubt that it was properly labeled UNCLASSIFIED or whatever the classification of the data really was (likely not higher than SENSITIVE, otherwise he must have put some effort into storing the data on his PED).
  The guy violated a very reasonable request (no personal devices) in a contract he willfully signed (AUP). This is situation is one of the reasons PEDs are not allowed on DoD workstations.
They were probably keeping secret by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 03:03 · Score: 0

...what they shouldn't have kept secret anyway.
Well, I don't know enough to tell in this case, but it's an important, general question: What information should governmental agencies be allowed to keep secret from the world (and thereby from their own citizens) and what should be available? Remember, we (the people) are the ones to decide that when we decide we want to create a government in the first place.
1. Re:They were probably keeping secret by A.+B3ttik · 2009-01-26 03:08 · Score: 1
  
  I think "specific mission briefings" and "personal information of soldiers" clearly falls in the category of "Things that the military should be allowed to keep secret."
  
  Surely you don't think that every single offensive, attack, and maneuver should be announced ahead of time?
Where the hell is DHS now? by Sun.Jedi · 2009-01-26 03:04 · Score: -1, Troll

The US spends ~$146B plus $46.5B per year for 2 wars and DHS, but they can't even scrub an old flash drive?
Allowing that kind of data (if true) is an unconscionable crime. It is a treasonous act, even if in error.
Kudos to Chris Ogle for doing the right thing with this information.
1. Re:Where the hell is DHS now? by mseeger · 2009-01-26 03:43 · Score: 1
  
  Hi, you'll need 1$ to scrub the flash drive and 1 million bucks to find out which one. This probably wasn't an army issue MP3 player. Someone was using his own player to transport files from work to home. The player got stolen and ended up on the black market. If you want to prevent this, you need technical measures to prevent writing on confidential data on usb drives. This software has to be installed on each and every PC. Then some brass comes by (usually has more stars than brain cells) and orders his PC to be excluded. Otherwise he cannot perform mission alpha bravo delta. His PC gets an exception rule, his junior assistants gets the same rights.... etc. Everyone knows where this ends. Sincerely yours, Martin
2. Re:Where the hell is DHS now? by Sun.Jedi · 2009-01-26 04:29 · Score: 1
  
  Hi, you'll need 1$ to scrub the flash drive and 1 million bucks to find out which one.
  No. You need someone with a brain to say, "no more flash drives of any kind, and no exceptions". There; it's been said, for free even.
  There is no sensible reason for variance when one needs information moved from one 'secure' computer to another 'secure' computer with a highly suspect, easily compromised method in the middle. That's free info as well.
  This is completely avoidable with 100% surety. My original point remains (and a big booyah fuckyou to the moderator of GPP for not understanding or modding content)... we the taxpayers foot the bill for example after example of incompetence and stupidity, with very little reward in return.
3. Re:Where the hell is DHS now? by Gogo0 · 2009-01-26 07:13 · Score: 1
  
  i dont think that was a troll...
  anyway, the DoD has their own budget, and this falls under DoD. DHS doesnt mess with us.
Not just the military by wiredog · 2009-01-26 03:05 · Score: 2, Informative

Most of the US Gov is banning USB key drives, music players plugged into computers, and any other read/write media.

--

Best Slashdot Co
1. Re:Not just the military by stewbacca · 2009-01-26 03:18 · Score: 1
  
  I used a firewire based iPod on a military system within a secure area (on unclassified computers only though) for about three years until the security dweebs figured out what an "iPod" was and what "firewire" meant.
2. Re:Not just the military by SuperBry · 2009-01-26 03:20 · Score: 1
  
  Wouldn't they be better off just to disable the USB ports on any machine with access to sensitive information?
3. Re:Not just the military by stiggle · 2009-01-26 03:37 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Except they would like you use the USB mouse, USB keyboard to actually do some work :-) Easier to just lock the PC itself inside a cabinet so the end user doesn't have access to the box itself, just the keyboard, mouse, monitor.
4. Re:Not just the military by sholsinger · 2009-01-26 03:45 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  They've already disabled USB storage devices on ALL DoD information systems. Not just ones with access to "sensitive" information.
5. Re:Not just the military by dotancohen · 2009-01-26 03:50 · Score: 1
  
  Most of the US Gov is banning USB key drives, music players plugged into computers, and any other read/write media.
  When they should be banning operating systems that allow these devices a convenient attack vector. Seriously, why should a removable device has executable privileges and access to critical system files?
  
  --
  It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
6. Re:Not just the military by andereandre · 2009-01-26 05:18 · Score: 1
  
  would they not better of banning all computers? And while we're at it, all those horrible machines. It was much more fun when you could chop someones arms off and the good sport would say: "it is just a flesh wound"!
7. Re:Not just the military by n3tcat · 2009-01-26 05:35 · Score: 1
  
  meh, we still use PS/2 mice and keyboards in my office because the NSA-approved KVM switches we have don't take USB.
8. Re:Not just the military by cffrost · 2009-01-26 05:52 · Score: 1
  
  Most of the US Gov is banning USB key drives, music players plugged into computers, and any other read/write media.
  I find this backwards-thinking disturbing. This policy effectively bars many capable individuals, from Johnny Mnemonic to Lt. Cmdr. Data from Federal employment. They should be granted these opportunities under the (as-yet undrafted) Americans with Capabilities Act.
  
  --
  Thank you, Edward Snowden.
  
  "Arguments from authority are worthless." —Carl Sagan
9. Re:Not just the military by khellendros1984 · 2009-01-26 09:07 · Score: 1
  
  This article wasn't about infection or transfer of system files, it was about discovery of mission and personnel data being found on a second-hand USB device. A non-Windows OS wouldn't have necessarily helped, in this case.
  
  --
  It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
10. Re:Not just the military by dotancohen · 2009-01-26 09:29 · Score: 1
  
  This article wasn't about infection or transfer of system files, it was about discovery of mission and personnel data being found on a second-hand USB device. A non-Windows OS wouldn't have necessarily helped, in this case.
  Not in this case, no. But previous articles have discussed the matter that I mentioned.
  
  --
  It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
11. Re:Not just the military by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 10:03 · Score: 0
  
  Would it be possible to convert any cable connected to a USB hub into a usb plug and connect it to a hub? Better to just use PS2 connectors.
12. Re:Not just the military by Nefarious+Wheel · 2009-01-27 00:32 · Score: 1
  
  Easier to just lock the PC itself inside a cabinet so the end user doesn't have access to the box itself, just the keyboard, mouse, monitor.
  These are available -- rack mounted PC blades with each desk holding a small dock connecting keyboard, video and mouse. The racks of client PC's are centrally managed. I believe the economics were originally for max uptime at the desktop by not requiring a technician visit in case of ordinary PC failure -- they just switch which blade in the rack goes to that desk via some sort of uber-KVM switch.
  Sorry I can't be more technical, but it was some time ago and I only saw the sales literature. If I were at work I'd offer a name or a link ;)
  
  --
  Do not mock my vision of impractical footwear
13. Re:Not just the military by punkass · 2009-01-27 09:14 · Score: 1
  
  So, you're comment has no bearing on the current article being discussed here. Got it.
  
  --
  "Nobody owns the fucking words man." - James Dean
14. Re:Not just the military by dotancohen · 2009-01-27 09:41 · Score: 1
  
  My comment was relevant to the comment that I was replying to. Take it up with wiredog.
  
  --
  It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
Illin with the panicillin? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 03:05 · Score: -1, Offtopic

Is she illin with the panicillin?
Is she reelin in the panicillin?
Is it feelin with the panicillin?
Are you steelin in the panacillin?
Panka Panka
Is she liable no suitifiable no not on trial but so suitifiable
Is she viable no suitifiable pliable style is so suitifiable
so reliable no suitifiable shes not on file but so suitifiable
im on the dial its so suitifiable its like im liable but more suitifiable
1. Re:Illin with the panicillin? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 09:00 · Score: 0
  
  WTF?
I'd hate to be the original owner by MikeRT · 2009-01-26 03:08 · Score: 5, Informative

Few seemingly innocuous things can get you in greater trouble in any part of the federal government, especially the DoD than bringing a personal portable storage device into an area that is restricted. Copying sensitive information onto one is, itself, a very serious offense that if a soldier gets caught doing will not only revoke any security clearance they had but quite possibly end their career in the federal government.
1. Re:I'd hate to be the original owner by stewbacca · 2009-01-26 03:23 · Score: 1
  
  Few seemingly innocuous things can get you in greater trouble in any part of the federal government, especially the DoD than bringing a personal portable storage device into an area that is restricted. Copying sensitive information onto one is, itself, a very serious offense ...
  That's why Sandy Berger became his own "personal portable storage device".
That doesn't make sense... by jonaskoelker · 2009-01-26 03:18 · Score: 1

Most likely they will try to punish the current owner.
What, they're going to sue him for buying what he was offered?
1. Re:That doesn't make sense... by gEvil+(beta) · 2009-01-26 03:22 · Score: 1
  
  No, it doesn't make sense. But that won't necessarily stop the Army from trying to punish him for being in possession of "government information."
  
  --
  This guy's the limit!
2. Re:That doesn't make sense... by Xerolooper · 2009-01-26 04:14 · Score: 1
  What, they're going to sue him for...
  They can make up some stuff:
  
  He is a foreign national who purchased top secret government information.
  
  Possession of top secret government information.
  
  Transportation of top secret government information out of the USA.
  
  Viewing top secret government information
  
  I'm not saying it's right just sayin'.
  --
  "The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget." -Thomas Szasz
So what? by TooMad · 2009-01-26 03:20 · Score: 3, Interesting

You can find secret information on wikipedia. After getting out of the service I decided to see if certain details were on certain pages and found the secret information. There is probably much more throughout the entire site that seems quite benign but it is still classified.
first rule by alxkit · 2009-01-26 03:57 · Score: 0

Victoria University strategic studies director Peter Cozens said one of the first rules of military endeavour was to not give the opposition information that could compromise your position.

and the second rule of military endeavour was to not give the opposition information that could compromise your position
Fill in the blanks by Minwee · 2009-01-26 04:09 · Score: 5, Funny

Chris Ogle says he will return the unit to the US Defense Department if asked, and that it never worked as a music player anyway.
Oh, so it was a Zune?
Ding Chavez by cerelib · 2009-01-26 05:12 · Score: 2, Funny

I hope the files did not include the full dossier of Ding Chavez and his detailed plans for hostage rescues.
Burn After Reading by pclminion · 2009-01-26 05:53 · Score: 1

I watched Burn After Reading last night, so this article is kind of funny. Sounds like a bunch of interesting-looking but ultimately useless information. Just don't let George Clooney shoot you in the face as you hide in John Malkovitch's closet, okay?
It's not just the Army by Richy_T · 2009-01-26 05:54 · Score: 5, Funny
I also recently purchased a used IPOD and found important naval information stored on it, most notably recruitment details describing how new recruits would be able to
- Learn Science Technology
- Learn to fly
- Play in sports and skin dive
- Study oceanography
- Sign up for the big band
- Or sit in the grandstand
  When your team and others meet
- sail the seven seas
- put your mind at ease
- join your fellow man
amongst other available activities. In the interests of national security, I deleted the file in question immediately.
So that'll be my legal defense ... by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 05:55 · Score: 0

... all of those credit card numbers were there when I bought it!
But what can you really do? by Richy_T · 2009-01-26 06:02 · Score: 2, Funny

Information wants to be free. And this is information with military training.
Was it a troop? by WindBourne · 2009-01-26 06:15 · Score: 1

There has been many attempts to steal information from America. It is possible that this was stolen by a civilian that works on base and was looking to sell it.

--
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
"TooManySecrets" by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-26 06:47 · Score: 0

Come on, taggers. If you don't remember the movie, you could at least check the anagram to make sure it's right!
Oh wow! by NiteShaed · 2009-01-26 06:58 · Score: 1

He modded you down in a thread he posted in? Gandalf is indeed a great and powerful wizard!

--
Some bring out the best in others, some the worst. Some bring out far more.
Mouse in my Beer by rossjudson · 2009-01-26 09:03 · Score: 1

I heard that if you like find a mouse in your beer bottle and bring it to the beer store they like have to give you free beer or something.
Right by kellyb9 · 2009-01-26 09:43 · Score: 1

I doubt our Government's incompetence as much as the next guy, BUT is there any verification that these files are legitimate. Could just be one giant fraud.
eBay Feedback Log by dangitman · 2009-01-26 11:17 · Score: 1

Less space than a Nomad. No US Army files. Lame.

--
... and then they built the supercollider.
stolen by dukeofurl01 · 2009-01-26 13:38 · Score: 1

It really sounds to me like it was stolen from a soldier and worked its way to a pawn shop.