New Zealander buys used MP3 player, finds classified US Army files in like-new condition

While used and refurb'd electronics have a long history of delivering more than the purchaser bargained for, like assembly-line photos, MI6 documents, or the phone number to Sarah Palin's hair stylist, New Zealand man Chris Ogle's surprise find is a little more troubling. He picked up the above unidentified MP3 player at a thrift shop in Oklahoma for $18 used. On it were 60 files, many of which appear to be US Army property of a confidential nature, including one that lists soldier names, SSNs, and phone numbers, and another doc that appears to be a mission plan. Sadly the Government is choosing to ignore this little security breach, but we think it should step up and make Mr. Ogle an offer. He's likely to let the thing go cheap thanks to a second unfortunate discovery: it doesn't even play music any more.

[Via The Sydney Morning Herald]

[Xerloq @ Jan 26th 2009 1:36PM]

Maybe the government is ignoring it because it isn't important? Maybe it's fake info? Maybe it's part of some counter-espionage misinformation plot designed to test and rat out those who would pass data along.

[Craig @ Jan 26th 2009 1:46PM]

It was probably left there to contact someone from mission impossible.

It will self destruct in 5 seconds.

[000000 @ Jan 26th 2009 2:01PM]

hmmm

[Steveorevo @ Jan 26th 2009 2:10PM]

Ahhh, leftoevers from the Cheny administration. They ain't the most technologiKaLLi savy. Them 'coulda used 'the google' to figure out how to erase the darn thing firstist.

Oh, but fear not, those SSNs are of soldiers long dead.

[Bob @ Jan 26th 2009 3:10PM]

@ Steveorevo

Yeah, I'm sure it was Dick Cheney's fault that someone decided it would be a good idea to store these confidential files on his/her MP3 player. Government employees don't do these things themselves, they only do exactly what our government tells them to do, nobody EVER deviates from the rules. Boy, you must chow down on everything CNN feeds you.

[Albanian_Killa @ Jan 26th 2009 4:46PM]

Imagine if he suddenly goes missing :o Then we'd have a story in our hands!

Government doesn't want it because it pretends like it's nothing, but it's something! :P I'm bored. Little espionage action should get things going.

[ZIG @ Jan 26th 2009 6:10PM]

U'd think that the country that has developed laser beams that can take out flying robots would be able to handle an over rated memory stick...

[Steveorevo @ Jan 27th 2009 3:09PM]

@Bob

We all know Dick doesn't know dick about technology, he's in a wheelchair from hauling that damn 1 ton safe-of-evidence around.

CNN? meh, msnbc, news.au, bbc.uk, singapore straights, shinbi, etc. etc.

But I guess 'faux' news is all you need, eh?

[a ham sandwich @ Jan 26th 2009 1:36PM]

"it doesn't even play music any more"
o weak! and he already plopped down ALL THAT MONEY!

[Rob @ Jan 26th 2009 2:09PM]

I mean, paying $18 for a used MP3 player, what a ripoff. I can buy a new 1GB player for less then €10.-

[Logan @ Jan 26th 2009 1:39PM]

Sheesh man... Making my home state look like poo. Who let that kiwi in anyways? :-P

[Odimerus @ Jan 26th 2009 1:39PM]

US Army? I thought you might be worried... about the security... of your shit.

[Ray @ Jan 26th 2009 1:45PM]

LOL Best Movie EVER!!

[From My Cube @ Jan 26th 2009 1:50PM]

F, F who, the F , is this, do you know what the F your getting into...insert 50 more f bombs

[Like_A_Glove @ Jan 26th 2009 2:50PM]

But I am perfectly willing to give back to you your sensitive shit.

[MED @ Jan 26th 2009 3:06PM]

he should take it to the Russians.

[Rand @ Jan 26th 2009 3:32PM]

The Russians probably have all the stuff on that MP3 player already, as well a bunch of MUCH more interesting stuff.

[who? @ Jan 26th 2009 6:46PM]

PC or a' Mac?

[MadMike @ Jan 26th 2009 1:42PM]

He can sell it to China and make a cool $1MM cold hard cash. If he's not an American citizen and not on US Soil - they can't do much about it.

Of course, the CIA will likely have him promptly shot.

[Alex @ Jan 26th 2009 2:31PM]

I would rather be shot by the FBI because it sounds so much better.
Wanted by the CIA.
Wanted by the FBI.

And I imagine the FBI people looking like Agent Smith, while the CIA people look like businessmen. There is a difference, I promise.

[DarkLight @ Jan 26th 2009 5:30PM]

"Wanted by the NSA" would sound more badass.

They look like the CIA people, except they're invisible.

[fett327 @ Jan 26th 2009 1:44PM]

I dont think the files are Classified in the sense of an official classification. I think the title of this post should be

"New Zealander buys used MP3 player, finds confidential US Army files in like-new condition"

but of course, "classified" does generate more interest.

[Wwhat @ Jan 26th 2009 4:09PM]

Well they did specify the names/phone numbers and ssn, that's not good stuff to lose, as for classified, lots of stuff is officially 'classified' that we most all have access to without much effort so yeah that's an easy story.

[Kamokazi @ Jan 26th 2009 1:44PM]

Might have been stolen too. Although underestimating stupid people is always a bad idea.

[strider_mt2k @ Jan 26th 2009 1:46PM]

The problem is that it INITIALLY read like it had millions and millions of classified files, but then when the guy formatted it it was only like 15,000 classified files.

Stupid eBay, I hate that shit.

[davep @ Jan 26th 2009 1:46PM]

this aint the first time something like this has happened

[Andrew @ Jan 26th 2009 1:47PM]

Fake info? they called some of soldiers whose numbers were on the list and quite a few were old but they got through to one soldier so I doubt the info is fake.

[iankelleigh @ Jan 26th 2009 1:56PM]

"So what did we learn from this?"
"Um... I don't know."

"I don't fuckin' know either."
"Report back to me when it makes sense."

[Montusama @ Jan 26th 2009 1:57PM]

Would it be wrong to charge a small finder and returning fee?

[muddyh2o @ Jan 26th 2009 2:00PM]

and the dude's just thrown up a torrent with all the files in it...

[slider16988 @ Jan 26th 2009 2:05PM]

Burn After Reading

[Steve @ Jan 26th 2009 2:50PM]

exactly what i was gonna say.

[PXPAULX @ Jan 26th 2009 2:28PM]

burn after failing.

[Eltorro @ Jan 26th 2009 3:08PM]

Just watched that a few days ago and was the first thing I thought of.

[Laughing Man @ Jan 28th 2009 9:51PM]

The army is colder than you think. This person will be found, those files will be destroyed, and several people will be court marshaled.

P.S. Who the f&$* advertise that he possibly has secure information? You might as well just go to a U.S. Army base wearing a T-shirt that says, "Call the Marines because I am a threat."

[Andrew Lazetera @ Jan 29th 2009 2:06PM]

Haha the army doesn't call the Marines you silly pants!

The Marines call the army.

The Marines kick everyones ass first, then army navy and air farse are all on cleanup duty. Its standard order of operations. Its also first to fight.

[deathcapt @ Jan 26th 2009 2:55PM]

Yeah, If I had an old mp3 player and was about to sell it I would probably just throw some funny ass shit on it. Like when people bury treasure maps under pools, or write wierd shit under wall paper or behind dry wall. Just for the odd chance that someone finds it and thinks it's real. But apparently these are legit? if Andrew is correct.

Also, burn after reading was awesome

[Seawolf @ Jan 26th 2009 3:04PM]

Hope and Change

[Bob @ Jan 26th 2009 3:16PM]

"Hope" you don't expect to have any "Change" left over from your paycheck after our taxes are raised again to pay for young women's abortions and keep the terrorists at Gitmo in high security prisons where they will have to hire even more guards.

[Gleb Serbin @ Jan 26th 2009 3:43PM]

@Bob

Wow, I don't think I have ever seen such a ridiculously pointless and obvious attempt at shoving your anti-government propaganda into the faces of a group of people who really could not give a crap. Well done.

And yes, I know I'm being a hypocrite but damn it sometimes things just need to be said!

[matt @ Jan 26th 2009 3:05PM]

I see the US is finally catching up to the UK levels of dataloss. There isn't one person who hasn't had their personal data left on a train, in a pub or sold on ebay, courtesyof HM government.

[phonetic @ Jan 26th 2009 5:08PM]

If you've been affected by the issues in matt's post, call the action line on 0800 1357274. All calls are confidential.

[brokenkeyboard @ Jan 26th 2009 4:31PM]

Interesting fact relating to this:

US Gov IT requirements don't allow you to use USB thumb drives on government computers. (I think this even applies to computers not approved for classified info.) However, their definition of "thumb drive" is pretty strict, so things like MP3 players and disk-based USB drives are somehow considered ok to use. So basically people use MP3 players and small external HDDs in exactly the same way they would normally use a USB thumb drive: moving stuff between PCs

I don't work for the gov, so I don't know first-hand, but this is basically my understanding.

[Matt @ Jan 26th 2009 5:00PM]

That's actually not true at all. It's on a department-by-department basis. DoD doesn't allow them. Others do.

[Chaos744 @ Jan 27th 2009 6:25AM]

not anymore - any external device with memory capabilities cannot be used on gov't networks.

PS - I actually DO work for the gov't!

[Chad @ Jan 26th 2009 4:46PM]

I just want to know what a Kiwi is doing in Oklahoma...

[ED @ Jan 26th 2009 5:09PM]

They'd be more concerned if it was the Air Force, as they're the ones who have the Stargate.

[who? @ Jan 26th 2009 7:12PM]

What a nutter butter... :P

[Spartacus @ Jan 26th 2009 5:30PM]

The greatest military intelligence achievement in the history of New Zealand.

[lowdef @ Jan 27th 2009 2:28PM]

hahaha