Hacker's project sends media-filled hard drives to troops
By Donald Melanson 
posted Sep 22nd 2007 6:42AM
posted Sep 22nd 2007 6:42AM
A network engineer going by the hacker handle 'Deviant Ollam' has taken it upon himself to send care packages of a different sort to troops serving overseas, with him ditching the usual goods in favor of hard drives filled with movies, music and other content. That's the basis for his Traveling Terabyte Project, which is apparently still operating on a relatively small scale, although "Ollam" hopes it'll pick up once he gets a website up and running. The hard drives themselves are packed in an appropriately olive-drab Pelican case, which also includes all the necessary USB cables and international power adapters. As the name of the project suggests, the hard drives aren't intended to stay in one place forever, with recipients of them encouraged to add their own files before sending 'em on to another location. For their part, the troops that have received the hard drives so far seem to dig the idea, especially considering that high-speed internet is hard to come by in many of the locations they're stationed.
Piracy, yaaaar
Elephant's Dream, a few Tryad albums, a Cory Doctorow ebook, some stuff by jules verne...
Bad pirate. Bad.
patriots ! yaar
I hope "other content" means porn.
Seriously.
And how long before RIAA and the MPAA decide they want to crack down on this guys valiant efforts. It sounds like a great idea and I wish the guy well!
that is a wonderful idea
Awesome idea! Being a soldier currently in Iraq, I have a little over 1.5TB that makes up my digital world. So far, I have about 150 gigs free. Movies, music, programs, etc..... Everyone is always trading and swapping here. This program not only makes much more sense then most of the stuff we get, it will be used constantly.
The area I was at maintained a morale drive. Whenever a new movie came out in theaters, someone would buy it at the bazaar and it would be available on the drive within a day.
Unfortunately, they have been removing them. That is why I built my own. With in my company's living area, Myself and another Sergeant built a server for everyone. Huge hit, and everyone's friends come over with an external and take as much as they can. That is how I know this would be such a huge hit.
So, when are the RIAA and MPAA due to visit Iraq? I suspect their investigations may have to consist of checking various suitcases in downtown Baghdad, in the daylight, in dayglow yellow trucks.
lol :D
and without any security contractors to protect them
Iraq and many companies don't believe in the RIAAA and MPAA pig-dogs. Good luck in enforcing anything that a capitalist nation created.
"Hi this is the RIAA do you own the rights to that music you are listening to?"
"No but I own the rights to this gun I have and the bullets that are in it. Want a close inspection?"
Considering these guys are getting used to shooting at people, I'm thinking the RIAA and MPAA might finally STFU for once.
MPAA/RIAA in an e-mail: "zomg trups! thiz is al KAYDA on hard drives OH NOEZ!"
Exactly. Any pressed charges would see "Operation Bulk Erase" enacted. Imagine an air strike on RIAA headquarters? MMMMMMmmm.
Great way to infiltrate the military network...
one of the policies that i have in place with respect to the drives is that they contain only media content, not executable code.
there are only a few exceptions there... there is a small directory containing player codecs if someone is stranded somewhere with a laptop that somehow can't handle XviD or AC3 audio or something, but all the files themselves are all MPEG, AVI, or MP3. no proprietary codecs or file types that can contain malware or redirect a media player are permitted.
To:Deviant Ollam @ Sep 22nd 2007 3:17PM
From: ME @ Now
Subj: ren
Message: Rename malware*.exe kickassmediaforyou.avi.exe and let some poor schmuck with an un-patched copy of windows get exploited.
this is great! best thing I've read all day.
so glad you are pleased with the notion. once we get something closer to a proper web site up and running at travelingterabyte.org feel free to give a shout on the forums and perhaps one of these cases can make its way to you and your mates if you're stationed overseas. ;-)
this is awesome!
When I was over there in 2005 one of the base Generals shut down our media server we were running because of copy right infringement worries. He had no problems with the hadji's on base selling bootleg DVD's though.
Exactly my point. Takes the blame off of US forces if the local population sells the copies. Gives them a buffer and a reason to make propaganda films about how ur $2 goes to terrorism.
The really crappy thing is that the 2 dollars you pay is for a movie shot with a camcorder and major parts of the movie are missing! I bought Batman Begins and it went from him being stuck in a well with bats to him all of a sudden getting the bat mobile! I think it was all part of a psychological warfare scheme though...
I have over 750 gigs of movies and tv shows! Thanks Iraq!
I was going to post that the awesome thing is, if anybody bitches about copyright issues, it's an instant slap in the face for that company -- what, you can't spare a few free copies of (name of product) for our serving men and women, you heartless bastards? Hell, I bet half the companies over here would welcome the PR boost -- if it came up that their stuff was being pirated by the troops, they'd send over a crate of free DVDs. At least, I hope there's still enough people left here that love this country to do that sort of thing...
You'd think he'd go for the Pelican 1400 in desert tan ...
actually, the second TTB that i made was done in tan. see more details and photos about the project here...
deviating.net/ttb
Do not understand why people keep going on about why this boy is still in custody he has charges from an attack on a family member that is serious so if he got in trouble again the judge has the right to see he does not do somthing again.The whole thing is tragic If white kids are taunting they should be punished too.
what exactly makes this dude a "hacker"? rather than just some military fanboy?
He is a hacker in the classic sense: someone who enjoys tinkering with hardware and software. The word has such a negative connotation these days because it's the word the media uses to describe anyone who is doing anything illegal with technology, but it was once just a descriptive word.
Since when is adding a bunch of files onto a drive 'tinkering with hardware and software' or 'hacking'?
Yeah! What HE said!
Hope the thing has a sony battery and explodes at arrival, but that's just me.
WTF? Dude! Not cool!
I should support bush's assassins? Thanks but no thanks.
Don't feed the trolls, please.
Wasn't strictly meant as a troll but to smile and sit quiet while thousands of people live in misery and are tortured and murdered and then us cheerily send presents and not comment to prevent 'uneasiness' and controversy, I dunno, is that so ideal?
And I am responding to the item, didn't start it out of the blue, but yeah responding might lead to all kinds of pointless fights, so it's probably best to not feed this little rant of mine, won't change anybody's view anyway, I can't change theirs, you can't so quickly change mine.
I don't want this to turn into a debate over politics either but yeesh...Just because you don't support the war is no reason to wish harm on the people who are doing what they are told to do.
I personally do not agree with the politics of the war or the atrocities that are committed because of it (on both sides) but still that is no reason to wish harm on those who are caught up in the middle of it.
*EOM*
Doing what they are told to do? anybody that's signed up now signed up while bush was in power and had his show going, it's a voluntary army and as such they chose to do what they do.
But truth be told I guess I don't care that much about the iraqi people either, I mostly don't like the pretense that there's anything good about what 'we' are doing, or the people we have doing it, it's so sickeningly nonsensical.
I am not going to pretend they are 'our' 'heroes' doing 'good' things for 'peace' and 'democracy', because we bloody well know that's BS.
It wouldn't surprise me to see the RIAA/MPAA secretly load up defective Sony batteries in these things so that they can then release a press release about how al-qaeda now uses "piracy" to achieve their means, and that is why we must all stop download Britney Spears' new single or we shall all surely die!
hehe
@Wwhat
I currently reside in Texas, and have disliked Bush since day one. I am constantly ridiculed (due to my political opinions) because of my current local, but that is neither here nor there.
Two things I wanted to bring up real quick...
Wwhat "anybody that's signed up now signed up while bush was in power and had his show going"
First, I hope you understand that every time a new president comes into power, the entire military is not cleansed and you must reenlist ONLY if you support the new Commander and Chief.
Second, I would like you to sign up for any branch of your choosing and then get back to me on the whole "they chose to do what they do" thing. Let me know how that works out when you’re under fire via drill sergeant or 7.62×39 mm round .
Thanks in advance
Wesburl
You do realise bush has been president for some time now right? way longer than the time you normally sign up for.
Plus perhaps you are right, perhaps if I was a fool and stepped in such a foolish endeavor as joining the army I'd be screwed, but hey I'd be the one that made that silly choice.
And It's not about specifically hating individuals in the army, it's just that if you actively support madness there's nothing wrong with getting a little verbal flak, rather than (misplaced) pity.
Oh and I hear they spend half a billion a day on Iraq, do they really need people's handouts? they do get payed too you know, and even have internet, people act like it's freaking WW1 here.
You do realize bush has been president for some time now right? way longer than the time you normally sign up for.
When I said they chose what they do I meant the signing up, and that's still voluntary last I heard.
Plus perhaps you are right, perhaps if I was a fool and stepped in such a foolish endeavor as joining the army I'd be screwed, but hey I'd be the one that made that silly choice.
And It's not about specifically hating individuals in the army, it's just that if you actively support madness there's nothing wrong with getting a little verbal flak, rather than (misplaced) pity.
Oh and I hear they spend half a billion a day on Iraq, do they really need people's handouts? they do get payed too you know, and even have internet, people act like it's freaking WW1 here
Don't feed the trolls, please.
Seems people subscribed to this thread just to vote me down, guess bush has his browncoat wannabes eager and ready, all they need is the signal.
@Wwhat
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." --John Stuart Mill, English economist & philosopher (1806 - 1873)
I learned this philosophy as an Air Force Academy cadet in 1991. I served my time, got out, joined Dept of Homeland Security, left there and now serve as a civilian with Dept of Defense.
Let me tell you, the people I've served with, military, civilian & contractor, are some of the sharpest and best people I've known. To question their intellect, minimize their sacrifice or cast dispersion on their character is a crime of inestimable proportions.
Wwhat, you are a coward. You mock and ridicule a class of hero you do not understand solely based on -- you know what, I won't even pretend to understand why you do it. I won't presume to tell you or anyone else your intentions or motivations because I can not relate to nor can I understand them. However, from what I gather -- based solely on what you've revealed in your tirade -- you're perfectly content to allow someone else to defend your privilege as an American citizen and to guarantee the "rights" that came with your birth. And you feel justified in mocking them. Behavior like that is the lowest form of humanity; the justified malcontent, the privileged pansy that I and others like me have accidentally sworn to protect and defend with our blood and lives while we choose to serve those who proudly wear the name and title "American".
Go back to your hole. The other gollums miss you.
It's an unpopular call, but it is what it is: like so many other things in this war - total disregard for international law, by packing that thing with movies and music.
Balance out your enthusiasm with the amazingly eye-opening Rolling Stone article called "The Great Iraq Swindle," it really brought me down and personally, I say bring all the troops back and let the Bush/Halliburton private "Blackwater" corporate armys take the heat - they are definitely getting enough money to pay for their own movies and music:
www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/16076312/the_great_iraq_swindle
Hey doriangray, it's not your picture in the attic that's showing ugliness.
Hitler was also in the army, long before he became dictator, he's also a "a class of hero" is he then?well since you were in homeland security I guess you think so.
To think or even try to argue just anybody that is in an army, like the idiots in iraq, are 'heroes' goes beyond ridiculous I must say, even if they were to do something brave they do it in a harmful manner for a bad cause and I'd be more impressed if they had the courage to say NO, now that would be heroic, but that is too tall an order of course.
One thing though, in the interest of (not quite) full disclosure, I'm not an american, I'm an european from a country that has troops in afghanistan and I think a handful of cop trainers in iraq.
Oh and by me naming the NAZI's this concludes this thread, you know the rule ;)
So don't even try to come with the BS 'we freed your continent' because it were americans FIGHTING fascism that freed europe, not people that ENFORCED fascism, it's a completely different breed.
I have been doing this as well. I convert anything going over for an iPod video (mp4) and then burn DVD's and send to a few of the good young men serving in Iraq. They tell me that they are bombarded to reload everyone's iPods when they arrive and since it all converted, they just drag and drop. As I sit at home, safe and comfortable, with my 24" iMac, I wish I could do more. They love this stuff. If you know someone there, they can't go to the movies or hangout at your house, they need something to help pass the time, great story!
I am not a "troop", but a State Department worker in Baghdad. Internet here is unbelievably slow and the $2 copied DVDs are generally trash. This is a great idea... Looking forward to running into a soldier who has received such a care package.
Stop spamming you stupid douche. That website has nothing to do with anything, and you've been spamming it in other threads as well.
"especially considering that high-speed internet is hard to come by in many of the locations they're stationed."
How about someone packs up a satellite internet device into a pelican case? :)
http://www.satsig.net/perla/transportable-mobile-vsat-middle-east.htm
Nice, i really like the idea. I have less then 2 months here, so it's not going to help me but i'm sure others can take advantage.
I'd be happy to add my movies, we picked up a few drives from Balad AB down to VBC, but doesn't seem like they've been updated since a few years ago.
this is old news and people have been doing it since the start of this war. Every time my buddies have went over myself and others have been sending all types of media including hd's over there. No idea why this made engadget now, kinda like letting people know edison had a group of guys make the light bulb.
Add in a few man-weeks of the "Stephanie Miller Show" (www.stephaniemiller.com) or at least the free podcasts, and a healthy dosage of The Daily Show, the Colbert Report and Keith Olberman, and they might feel like SOMEONE is on their side!
Wwhat @ Sep 22nd 2007 2:26PM
"Wasn't strictly meant as a troll but to smile and sit quiet while thousands of people live in misery and are tortured and murdered and then us cheerily send presents and not comment to prevent 'uneasiness' and controversy, I dunno, is that so ideal?
And I am responding to the item, didn't start it out of the blue, but yeah responding might lead to all kinds of pointless fights, so it's probably best to not feed this little rant of mine, won't change anybody's view anyway, I can't change theirs, you can't so quickly change mine."
Sir, you are out of line. Where these police with tasers when you need them?
Is he looking for help because i would love to
I have been doing this for 4 years now. Although I am not sending drives that I purchase, I do preload drives and laptops for people I know that have them shipped to me when they order them.
I also ship stacks of DVDs over filled with "content".
Sending over pelican cases stocked with drives and such seems like a great idea though, I just cannot afford to pay for it.
I think you'll only end up getting troops in trouble by trying to smuggle them alcohol.
And the first general order is "Take charge of this post and all government property in view", not sure what that has to do with alcohol smuggling...
This is an awesome idea. As a soldier stationed in souther Iraq, this would be a great help. While there IS the local Haji mart with pirated videos, they ARE mostly trash. And we can use the free computers, but are not allowed to plug anything in or DL anything. A E7 has put himself forward to buy a satelite internet (like $12k system) and now has to recoup his costs. This would help a lot of people out. A great idea.
@Wwhat
I didn't sign up to be one of Bush's "assassin's". I signed up to protect and defend people like you. People that believe that their freedom is free. People that take every morning for granted.
Without my brothers and sisters in arms this great country, with all of its faults and problems, would not exist. So until you've done your time and felt the heat of desert sun, the humidity of the southern states, and the weight of the rucksack on your back, you, my fellow American, have the right, but not the credibility to talk on the subject. US Army, 82nd Airborne Division.
-John
If you burn a DVD to this hard drive, it goes out for a year and you never watch the DVD, is this not the same as loaning it out to them, but using the original as the new backup? The intent is not to copy, abuse, rip off the movie companies, and so on. The hard drive travels with specific instructions regarding copying files and so on.
If anyone in theater wants dibs on the drive next, check out travelingterabyte.org and get hold of one of the folks in the know.
@ Tim
Nice job calling him on his general orders... or at least it would have been, except that he didn't say General Order to the Sentries, he just said General Order No 1.
In reality, General Order No 1 refers to the prohibition on consumption of alcohol and sexual activities by United States Department of Defense personnel while in a combat zone and certain pre-deployment training activities.
Wwhat @ Sep 22nd 2007 2:26PM
You simplifying it, and making generalizations based on your own personal politics. The service goes beyond politics, and your blaming them namelessly without taking them as the individuals they are. To you they are just the hand of the evil bastard currently in power. As civilians its our right and duty to be critical, especially to make sure the might of our nation is being used properly. To that I would say we owe to our soldiers even, and yet you want to blame the tool rather than the policy makers.
That being said, your in a dream world if you think the human race is capable of peace. So while you wish all the bad stuff would go away, it isn't, so go hide under your blanket. Its an ugly world, but the truth always is.