US Army Files Found On Second-Hand MP3 Player

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."

Do it Chris Ogle!

[Eddy Luten]

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..

Re:And the previous owner was?

[Linuss]

Yes yes, brand him a traitor and try to get him extradited to Texas so they can sentence him to death.

Re:so?

[A. B3ttik]

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."

Re:Do it Chris Ogle!

[von_rick]

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!

Re:And the previous owner was?

[Anonymous Coward]

Because you're either with us or you're with the terrorists. Didn't you get that memo?

Re:what are the exit policies of the army?

[UseTheSource]

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'! ;)

Re:Do it Chris Ogle!

[L4t3r4lu5]

No papal fanaticism?

Splitters!

Re:They Should purchase it back

[Dysproxia]

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.

Re:And the previous owner was?

[Anonymous Coward]

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.

Fill in the blanks

[Minwee]

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?

Re:And the previous owner was?

[MadMidnightBomber]

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.

Re:Do it Chris Ogle!

[Joe the Lesser]

Bloody hell, we'll come in again...

Ding Chavez

[cerelib]

I hope the files did not include the full dossier of Ding Chavez and his detailed plans for hostage rescues.

Re:Do it Chris Ogle!

[commodoresloat]

We don't get Monty Python references, and you expect us to get a Bob Dylan one?

It's not just the Army

[Richy_T]

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.

But what can you really do?

[Richy_T]

Information wants to be free. And this is information with military training.

Re:And the previous owner was?

[geekboy642]

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 [wikipedia.org] 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.

Re:And the previous owner was?

[Randle_Revar]

>Because you're either with us or you're with the terrorists.
Not since last Tuesday.