DVD Porn Viruses Ravage US Soldiers' Computers

stevegee58 writes "Tom Ricks' Inbox in the Sunday Washington Post reported that bootleg DVDs purchased in Iraqi markets ('souks') are frequently infected with viruses. Iraqi soldiers were affected as well; electronic interaction between Iraqi and US soldiers frequently resulted in a corresponding exchange of viruses from these infected DVDs."

Sexually Transmitted Disease

[Thalagyrt]

Gets a whole new meaning now.

Re:

[Devout_IPUite]

So remember, no sex if safe sex, but if you watch sex use Norton!

Re:Sexually Transmitted Disease

[cp.tar]

So remember, no sex if safe sex, but if you watch sex use Norton!

With Norton, you'll still get infected, but the system will slow down just enough that a DVD movie becomes a slideshow.

Re:Sexually Transmitted Disease

[cp.tar]

But seriously, what is the world coming to?

Previously, at least soldiers could count on running around, meeting interesting people, shooting them and raping their women.
Of course, often that also meant some kind of medical treatment afterwards, usually including some nasty shots of penicillin, but that was a small price to pay for the vast spread of one's genetic material.

Nowadays, the only virus you can get as a soldier infects your computer while you jack off to porn?
Really, they shouldn't have gone all the way to Iraq for that.

Re:Sexually Transmitted Disease

[Opportunist]

You wanna say the whole war in Iraq was just a lot of dick waving and mostly a masturbatory experience for a couple people?

Re:Sexually Transmitted Disease

[hummassa]

You wanna say the whole war in Iraq was just a lot of dick waving and mostly a masturbatory experience for a couple people?

Are you saying it isn't??

Re:Moderators w/o a Sense of Humor

[dgatwood]

No, no, you got the joke all wrong! You used an article where you should have used a possessive pronoun.

I have mod points, but I'm not touching this thread with my ten foot pole.

Re:Moderators w/o a Sense of Humor

[cp.tar]

No, no, you got the joke all wrong! You used an article where you should have used a possessive pronoun.

I have mod points, but I'm not touching this thread with my ten foot pole.

I wouldn't touch it with yours, either.

Re:Sexually Transmitted Disease

[Binkleyz]

You know, I'm fairly certain (at least I hope so) that you're either joking or just being a troll (in which case, I'm falling directly into your trap), but as (maybe one of the few) people on this site that were also previously in the military, I'm just about as offended as humanly possible at your comment above.

Not everyone that goes into the military is a knuckle-dragging Neanderthal, and quite a few of us are above average in terms of intelligence. I spent 6 years in the Navy, and I (nor anyone I knew) didn't shoot, rape OR pillage anyone.

On a site like this one, where people from the outside would presume everyone is a pasty and pimply 34 year old living in their parent's basement, I really would expect (just a little) a little more tolerance and less assumption from the people involved.

Re:Sexually Transmitted Disease

[zacronos]

On a site like this one, where people from the outside would presume everyone is a pasty and pimply 34 year old living in their parent's basement, I really would expect (just a little) a little more tolerance and less assumption from the people involved.

You must be new here!

Re:Sexually Transmitted Disease

[cp.tar]

You know, I'm fairly certain (at least I hope so) that you're either joking or just being a troll (in which case, I'm falling directly into your trap),

FWIW, the part that offended you was mostly a joke.

but as (maybe one of the few) people on this site that were also previously in the military, I'm just about as offended as humanly possible at your comment above.

Now you just flatter me. I didn't even mention many things that would offend a much greater number of people, but which would not be funny in the least.

Not everyone that goes into the military is a knuckle-dragging Neanderthal, and quite a few of us are above average in terms of intelligence.

I know quite a number of people of various IQ levels who've been to war. IQ and the ability to commit a war crime are not that related that I'd consider that comment as any kind of explanation.
And their war was much closer to home than yours.

I spent 6 years in the Navy, and I (nor anyone I knew) didn't shoot, rape OR pillage anyone.

Yeah, I've heard quite a lot about seamen.

Sorry, but you really walked into that one. ;)

On a site like this one, where people from the outside would presume everyone is a pasty and pimply 34 year old living in their parent's basement, I really would expect (just a little) a little more tolerance and less assumption from the people involved.

Don't take it all so seriously; beneath the irritating tone of my post there is some relatively sound biology.

Thank You

[dreamchaser]

Thank you for your service. The trolls here don't seem to understand that they probably wouldn't have the freedom to post offensive jokes were it not for you and your ilk.

I'd also add that the average literacy rate in the armed forces is higher than the national average.

Re:Thank You

[plague3106]

Huh? For almost three quarters of our countries existance, we didn't have a standing army in peace time. It was only out of fear we kept one around after WW2, and I'd venture a guess that if we didn't have a standarding army the past 60 years or so, we wouldn't BE in Iraq or Afganistan right now, and a good number of other countries may not hate us as much.

As for the literacy rate, it stands to reason you need basic reading skills to be a solider and so they either won't let you in or make you learn to read. Might as well say Hooters employs more women waitresses than any other chain...

Re:

[styrotech]

Geez, talk about overly sensitive US centric knee jerk reactions.

If anyone objecting to it actually read the comment (and not embellish it with your own sensitivities) it was referring about war in general historical terms (ie the "Previously..." bit). And in that sense it was far more accurate than it was inaccurate.

The only reference to Iraq and/or the current American military was in the contrasting "Nowadays..." bit that related to the story.

Out of all western democracies, only the US seems to have this

Re:

[bishiraver]

I suggest you re-read your history books :) Oh, wait, our history books are rife with inconsistencies and lies. Like our overall goal in Vietnam was honorable, we just bungled it up. That previous sentence? Load of horseshit. History is written and molded by the victors, and very rarely is it seen through anything other than tainted glasses.

Vietnam was directly instigated. Many of our military endeavors over the past 70 years or so were directly instigated by us. Things that have happened that 'threatene

Re:

[Sleepy]

Chill for a moment. If you read his post again, it is _satire_ not trolling.
Some people are ALWAYS offended when they don't recognize satire..

-s
38 and not living in parent's basement.

Re:Sexually Transmitted Disease

[cp.tar]

Humor of all kinds (satire included) needs to have an element of truth in it to be funny. In other words, in order to find his "joke" funny, you would have to believe (on some level) that the US military really DOES go out and commit atrocities on a regular basis.

Actually, no, you would not.

You would merely have to know enough history to know that the modus operandi described in my post has been characteristic for invading armies since the invention of armies.
Then you would have to notice that I actually implied that American soldiers were kind of wusses for not raping and pillaging, since all they really do is jack off to porn.

The rest of your post I would rather not comment on in great detail; let it suffice to say that the rest of the world has a bit different view of your army. And of your country.

Re:Sexually Transmitted Disease

[cp.tar]

1. You can think what you want, but can you really argue that the US Army is a quality force? "Best trained" as the OP said is a little presumptuous. Israel does a damn fine job, for example.

A well-trained force? Sure.
Best in the world? I wouldn't really know, and I don't really care.

2. It should be noted that you most likely live in an allied state (either a NATO country or one in the western hemisphere) OR an enemy/former-enemy state like the old soviet bloc. If you live under the latter, well, I understand why you'd say such a thing. However, if you live in the former, please consider this: The US has, for 50 years, guaranteed your safety. It may not seem like much to you. But please, consider it: We've made a treaty that says that if you're attacked by nuclear weapons that we would consider that an attack upon our own soil and retaliate as necessary.

Since the USA is not the only country in the NATO with nuclear weaponry, do keep in mind that each of the other countries in the NATO has said absoutely the same thing.
Frankly, if my country is attacked with nuclear weaponry, I don't give jack shit how you will retaliate; I'll have been incinerated and/or irradiated to the degree of absolute apathy by that point.

Furthermore, during the Cold War, it seems to me that you benefited way more from that treaty; the USSR was more likely to nuke you than us. With several European nations armed with nuclear weaponry, they were much less likely to try anything.

I don't believe in altruism in high politics; if it hadn't benefitted you and you primarily, you wouldn't have signed the treaty. Case in point: Tokyo Treaty.

BTW, your either-or logic is severely flawed: I was born in Yugoslavia, which has since fallen apart in a nasty little bunch of nasty little wars. We were neither in the Allied nor in the Soviet block, and Croatia is only now about to enter NATO. Probably.
Yugoslavia was Non-Aligned, which I still consider the best position in the dick-measuring contest you had with the Russians.

In other words, we, the American People, would deliberately involve ourselves in full nuclear exchange just to protect you and your countrymen.

Oh, puh-lease.

It's so sad to encounter people who so fervently believe their own propaganda.

Re:

[cp.tar]

Of COURSE we benefited from the treaty. We wouldn't have passed it otherwise.
<snip>
My point is simple: we stood beside you. You can throw stones at the people of this country. But we stood beside you. You can deride our military. But we pledged our military to protect YOU if you needed it.

... because you saw interest in it.

To be more accurate, your government saw interest in pledging some of your military - therefore, someone else's lives - in case some other NATO member was attacked.
No-one ever thought about protecting me. And since my country wasn't in the NATO, we had no protection whatsoever. I remember the war, and the weapons embargo while we were being attacked.
You didn't do jack shit.

So please, please don't try to give me that self-righteous self-sacrificing crap. I grew up in

Re:

[encoderer]

I had written a long reply. But you'll just wave your arms and yell "propaganda" because, well, it's easier to label it all "propaganda" than it is to actually discuss something reasonably.

I think a cultural barrier is going to prevent us from ever really seeing eye-to-eye.

But here's my issue with you:

You fault the American people for the mistakes our Government has made. Most notably, in your last post, about Iraq.

But, when it comes to extending the "nuclear umbrella" over NATO states, when it comes to int

Re:Sexually Transmitted Disease

[phulegart]

Well, I'm not a pimply-faced anything. In fact, I work in the busiest computer repair shop near Camp Lejune (see Marine Boot Camp). I repair laptops (and desktops) all day long that belong to soldiers. I'm regularly cleaning Iraq out of the laptops, and I'm just talking dirt and grime. However, all of them... and I do mean all of them, come in infected with malware, spyware, and viruses. Not only your Smitfraud.C based infections (Smitfraud, virus heat, etc.) but porn dialers, porn redirects and browser hijacks... you name it.

As far as tolerance is concerned, I'm glad that all these marines appear to know absolutely nothing about keeping their machines clean. It keeps me in a paycheck. However, I don't have much tolerance for people who insist that this might be an overblown story. As far as the Parent comment about rape and pillaging... our armed forces have changed radically since the Vietnam days. You can't necessarily blame the guy for his comment though. If what I'm cleaning off these machines is any indication... even if our armed forces aren't raping and pillaging, they sure are thinking of it. Where they are going on the web to screw up their machines like they are points to that conclusion.

Re:

[cHiphead]

You were not in the Army to take part in the traditional pillaging and raping fun, you were stuck in teh Navy and had to contend with vying for a bukakke session one of the 3 ladies onboard or cuddling with your fellow seamen.

You Navy boys never catch a break.

Sorry I couldn't resist. ;)

Cheers.

Re:Sexually Transmitted Disease

[Jumperalex]

Please do everyone a favor and learn the difference between the military, an instrument of national power, and the GOVERNMENT that wields it. If you want to meet a person who abhors war, talk to a soldier. If you want to judge someone for wanting to "kill people after the Cold War finished" I suggest you look at the people who decide when and where to send the military. I'll give you a hint, they don't wear uniforms.

That is so naive

[Anonymous Coward]

If you want to meet a person who abhors war, talk to a soldier. If you want to judge someone for wanting to "kill people after the Cold War finished" I suggest you look at the people who decide when and where to send the military. I'll give you a hint, they don't wear uniforms.

That is so naive, on so many fronts.

The people who want war are those who profit from it, either directly in dollars, or indirectly from the political power that comes from agitation of the dumb voting public, or more simply, from lea

Re:Sexually Transmitted Disease

[cp.tar]

If they abhor it so much, why the HELL did they VOLUNTEER to do it?

Well, first of all, you only get to abhor the war as much when you've actually participated in one. Or four.

Furthermore, some people join up in order to finance their education, hoping to hell there would never be a war they would have to fight in.

Then again, as a Croatian citizen, I know fairly well what kind of people also joins the military and fights in wars.
You get all kinds, and thus all generalizations are false.

Re:Sexually Transmitted Disease

[jhol13]

you only get to abhor the war as much when you've actually participated in one.

Are you claiming it is not enough that my parents had to live in one? Or to know how the war "works"?

Am I not allowed to abhor natural disasters as I have not been in any?

If they are stupid enough to enlist just to finance, well they do not deserve my "tolerance".

Re:Sexually Transmitted Disease

[cp.tar]

I lived through a war.
However, I lived in the capital, which was only a target of several air raids.
Some of my friends survived regular bombings day after day, night after night; some of them had their parents and other relatives killed; some were re-settled or lived in camps.

Do you think my feelings about the war are as deep and as strong as theirs?
I'm pretty anti-war and anti-military myself, for various reasons, but I will never ever try to imagine I can feel as deeply about it as they do.

As for financing your education... people do what they can. Or what they have to. I refuse to judge their choices as long as they act humane.

Re:

[greyhueofdoubt]

Dulce bellum inexpertis.

I joined up because of a desire to give something back to my country, Starship Troopers-style. I know war sucks. I've deployed to Iraq twice. I think it's the most terrible thing I'll every experience in my life. And I'm signing up to go again.

I did not join to finance my education; scholarships would have covered that.

I am a citizen (politicians are scumbags who would kill me to win an election) AND a solder (I will do everything in my power to get the job done). That is a lot to wr

Re:How does it work?

[cp.tar]

Ok...I'm a bit confused. How does one get a virus just playing a DVD???

It isn't an executable...just a bunch of vob files really isn't it? How does one get a virus by playing a simple DVD?

How did Sony's music CDs infect people's computers with the infamous rootkit?

Just because .vob files are not executable themselves, it doesn't mean that you can't include an autorun.inf that will wreak havoc on your Windows install.

Re:How does it work?

[garett_spencley]

One word ... autorun.

Re:How does it work?

[Fred_A]

Just because your run Linux doesn't give you the right to make fun of others.

Re:

[peragrin]

um the ASVAB isn't all that hard. I got a 98 on it in 1996. I took it just to keep my options open at the time.

Any one of the geeks here could pass it with one hand tied under the desk.

As for military service, It would do most of the slashdot community some good. 8 weeks of basic training would do wonders for them. while i never joined that was due to medical not intelligence. I would have to insist on joining.

Re:Sexually Transmitted Disease

[cp.tar]

Any one of the geeks here could pass it with one hand tied under the desk.

Yes, but we geeks have had lots of practice doing things one-handed, with the other hand tied up with something else under the desk.
Really, it would almost be unfair advantage.

Re:Sexually Transmitted Disease

[Marillion]

As for military service, It would do most of the slashdot community some good.

But, it comes with some very serious strings attached. I abhor the idea that killing is a solution to any problem. A soldier (or airman, seaman, marine) is given a gun. A gun is a machine designed to kill. The idea is kill your killer before he kills you. This is a morally dubious proposition and incompatible with the Christian theology I grew up with.

Re:Sexually Transmitted Disease

[cp.tar]

In Yugoslavia there used to be something called ORA(s), which is an acronym I can't readily translate, but which included very large groups of young people doing some pretty hard jobs for a period of time, e.g. (rail)roadbuilding.
This is a form of service I can subscribe to and would actually like to see re-instated in Croatia. For one, if high-school kids today just picked up the trash arund their schools and rebuilt the demolished bus stops, they would be less prone to littering and demolishing them all over again. IMO, of course.

Pacifism

[Perf]

A gun is a machine designed to kill.

Sorry, you are wrong. Re-read the Bible and spend time thinking about it.

There are guns designed to punch paper. There are guns designed for hunting - killing animals.

And then you get into the Christian policeman thing. Is it immoral for a Christian to be a policeman? Should he kill to stop a murder? Yes - It would be immoral for him NOT to.

A soldier is much like a policeman. His purpose is to fight to end a war. (Not all soldiers fight with weapons - some are medics, etc. But all fight to br

Re:

[CowTipperGore]

There are guns designed for hunting - killing animals.

The fact that you are killing a varied selection of animals does not change the fact that guns are designed to kill. In fact, you simply reinforced the statement you appeared to be trying to contradict.

And then you get into the Christian policeman thing. Is it immoral for a Christian to be a policeman? Should he kill to stop a murder? Yes - It would be immoral for him NOT to.

So says you. Unfortunately for you, others do not agree with your classifications of moral and immoral. Some would say that a preemptive murder crosses the line regardless of what you think you may be preventing, while others would argue it is immoral for anyone to kill another human regardless of the re

Re:Pacifism

[steelfood]

You know, GP can drop the "Christian" part and still make perfect sense. It's against GP's morality to kill other human beings, probably in any situation other than in self-defense (but I cannot truly speak for the GP on this matter). The military exists to do just that. Killing another person isn't a requisite to being in the military, but it is an expectation. And the other side has the same expectations as well. And if killing another person is against someone's morals (like GP's) regardless of whatever logical or illogical basis, then that's that.

Oh, and a soldier is NOT like a policeman. Police exist to keep the peace by enforcing the laws, and provide assistance to citizens in need. In an ideal situation, police serve the public, though that isn't always true. But generally speaking, they serve the law, whatever the law might be. They are not trained to kill, and certainly not trained to survive. To claim that police and military are the same means you either have a warped sense of the place and purpose of soldiers, the place and purpose of law enforcement, or both.

Finally, stop being pedantic. Firearms are designed for maiming and killing, be it human or any other animal. GP is not talking about other "guns". Glue guns have the word "gun" in the name too, but I'm pretty sure when someone puts military and gun together, they don't think about a nozzle that ejects a hot, sticky substance. Have you any other uses for a firearm (not explosives or some other appratus that otherwise uses explosives to propelled projectiles) besides killing or maiming? And don't tell me target practice.

Seesh...I don't know if it's Monday or what, but the mods need to get their shit together.

Re:Pacifism

[CowTipperGore]

Oh, but of course. The Baathists were being such good boys and never tried to antagonize.

The US DoD news release to which you linked discussed supposed Iraqi anti-aircraft attacks on US aircraft over Iraqi airspace. The no-fly zones were created by the US, Britain, and France, not the UN. They were created under the pretense of protecting Iraqi's Shiite and Kurdish minorities, yet the implementation demonstrates otherwise - they were setup on straight boundaries that did not overlap well with the minority populations, the US attacks on Iraqi installments had no relation to threats to the Shiites or Kurds, and the US even allowed Turkey to bomb the Kurds.

Try, just for a few seconds, to put yourself in Iraqi shoes and lets talk about someone antagonizing. Imagine that Egypt, Iran, and Syria decided to take serious issue with Israel's treatment of the Palestinians and declared that the Israeli military could no longer enter Gaza or the West Bank. Do you believe that Israel wouldn't fight back? Do you believe that the US wouldn't assist?

It sure would be nice to live in a world as black and white as yours.

It sure would be terrible to live in a world so devoid of empathy and rationalization as yours.

Re:

[dotancohen]

out of curiosity, is there a better way to do this?

There is, but it involves a virus-infected DVD and higher authority will find out in the end. I recommend to just keep thinking about your bunkmate's picture of his sister.

OT: What is this world coming to?

[thePowerOfGrayskull]

What is this world coming to when even 7-digiters are able to mod?!

Re:OT: What is this world coming to?

[Lunatrik]

What is this world coming to when even 7-digiters are able to mod?!

You have no idea. I mod up everything that has to do with Ballmer throwing chairs, Gotse, ?? Profit, and FIRST POST, while making sure to mod down anything with substance. I considered, albeit briefly, modding with dignity, but then I saw that 7 digit number and realized.. neh, screw it.

Re:OT: What is this world coming to?

[StreetStealth]

Whatever, mr. high six digits!

Re:Sexually Transmitted Disease

[Maxo-Texas]

And the olny weigh to fix a p

Re:Sexually Transmitted Disease

[Maxo-Texas]

And the only way to fix a post where you made a mistake is to repost it.

Re:Sexually Transmitted Disease

[aplusjimages]

I think they call it STDVD.

Re:

[MrKaos]

Digital Venereal Disease.

Re:

[Frosty Piss]

The solution is obvious: US Government Certified Porn. We must protect our troops. The San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce will go along with it...

They should also develop a holographic seal of approval.

Rootkits

[adpsimpson]

Are these the old Sony disks they're talking about?

Not worth it

[Hyppy]

From personal experience, believe me, Iraqi porn isn't worth it.

Re:

[Opportunist]

Well, if Family Guy is any reference, it simply has to beat English porn...

Re:Not worth it

[gwayne]

Dhakmi does Mosel!

Iraqi Man 1: Would you get a load of the slit in her burka! I think I saw an eye!

Iraqi Man 2: Oh yeah, baby, put it on! More burka!

Iraqi Man 3: Halalalalalalalala...BOOM!

Is nothing sacred?!

[Mongoose Disciple]

That doesn't sound like supporting the troops.

Re:

[sm62704]

Your child support payments support your kids (assuming they don't live with you), and your taxes support the troops (assuming they don't live with you).

I support the troops. I'm getting a troop support rebate check this month, too!

-mcgrew

Re:Is nothing sacred?!

[Harlockjds]

>I support the troops. I'm getting a troop support rebate check this month, too!

I support the troops sooooo much that i don't qualify for a troop support rebate check

Support Our troops

[brewstate]

We need to send them virus free porn. Gentlemen time to dump your hard drives to DVD.

Re:Support Our troops

[neokushan]

This is going to take a while...

Don't they have Internet connections over there?

[aliquis]

Because as we all know Internet is for porn [youtube.com].

Re:

[Hercules Peanut]

We need to send them virus free porn. Gentlemen time to dump your hard drives to DVD.

Strange the above quote is modded +3 interesting instead of funny. Does that mean the /. community is seriously considering doing this?

Re:Support Our troops

[jtev]

It means that some in the slashdot community already have. It's not allowed to be talked about, but one of the comfort items most desired in theater is porn. They aren't supposed to have it, and they can't get it in the PX, so they get it in letters from home, in nice little optical shiny packages, or they download it from FTP sites set up by their families, that don't get on the blacklist. Those who aren't so lucky, purchase it in theater, which apparently is a less than stellar option.

Re:Support Our troops

[d3ac0n]

Sounds like someone in the Porn community that supports the troops could set up a very interesting charity.

I can see it now: "Support the troops, send them quality American porn!"

There could be shots of porn stars dressed like 1940's pinup stars in the ads for the charity.

The name might be tough though... "Skin for the Soldiers", "Tits for the Troops"? I'm sure we could come up with something interesting.

Anyone here have contacts at Vivid Entertainment? Let's get this baby rolling!

Re:Support Our troops

[jtev]

This becomes far less of an issue if you are willing to share with your squad mates. All of a sudden things like rotations apear out of nowhere. Just because it's not an officaly army sanctioned activity doesn't mean there's not an army way of doing things.

Re:Support Our troops

[Chris Burke]

Just because it's not an officaly army sanctioned activity doesn't mean there's not an army way of doing things.

Mental Image You Didn't Need For Today: A bunch of Privates standing around in a circle-jerk, with their Sargent calling out a cadence.

Re:

[Opportunist]

Why not? There's so much talk about how geeks don't support our troops, that we oppose the war in Iraq on principle, that we don't want to pull our weight. How much better, and geekier, could you show your support than by increasing our troops' computer security AND giving them enough wanking material to literally help them through the whole mess?

Re:

[drinkypoo]

How much better, and geekier, could you show your support than by increasing our troops' computer security AND giving them enough wanking material to literally help them through the whole mess?

Supporting their presence overseas is not supporting our soldiers. You want to do something to support the troops? Lean on your "elected" representatives to bring them home from fighting an illegal war.

Re:Support Our troops

[Nimey]

Send them individual socks, too. Keeps things tidy.

Re:Support Our troops

[oodaloop]

After having been there a few times, I'll just point out that it is 100% illegal to have any kind of pr0n in country. No DVDs, no Playboys, no nothin, so don't mail it (I realize you made the above statement in jest, but someone reading it may think it's a good idea).

That being said, I've seen more pr0n on classified servers than I've seen in the rest of my previous life. We had to remove about 3 or 4 TB off of one server so the map server could run properly. That and it was slowing down Call of Duty. Mind you, it wasn't all of it, just a couple of TB.

Re:

[eck011219]

You know, I don't know if you're joking or not, but I see no reason why this SHOULDN'T be the case. In the past, the government has provided soldiers with cigarettes, alcohol, and other "creature comforts" for morale purposes.

I'm not suggesting they be given anything illegal or particularly depraved (by "conventional" standards, whatever that means), but how hard is it to provide a collection of confirmed virus-free pics and video?

The only problems I see are that a) soldiers who prefer the company of their

Re:

[drinkypoo]

Let's see, 1x is 1.2MB/sec peak, that's 20833 times the write rate, and 1x is about 580 RPM (for a CD anyway, I would assume it's the same for a DVD, but you how how dangerous that is.) Anyway, if they are the same that's about 12083140 RPM. Most discs weigh about 15 grams and have a diameter of 12cm. According to http://www.botlanta.org/converters/dale-calc/flywheel.html [botlanta.org] that's about 0.05 joules of energy (a joule is a newton-meter) whereas as 20833 times the speed, that's 21620375.64 joules. Just to put t

Protection

[jspenguin1]

The shift key: the condom of the Windows world.

Re:Protection

[Spy der Mann]

The problem I see is that Soldiers were using Windows-based PC's, WTF is going on? The NSA helped develop SELinux and these guys, in the most critical of the situations, are using the most insecure operating system in the world.

Talk about National Security :-/

Re:

[maxume]

It's a bit of a stretch to call this the most critical of situations.

Also, I believe that PromiscuOS is somewhat less secure than Windows.

Re:

[TheNetAvenger]

The problem I see is that Soldiers were using Windows-based PC's,

Well the training games don't run on SELinux, let alone all the other games they play.

Besides, they buy own their own laptops, if the Bush Company has trouble getting them essentials or housing that doesn't electrify troops, do you really think they have the time or money to get them CDs with SELinux or help them install it? And then what? They boot in Windows 99% of the time because they game and use WebCams to see their kids, etc.

So ya, thi

Re:Protection

[jps25]

What OS you run DOES NOT = LESS or MORE security at this point from an OS architectual standpoint unless you have an older OS without security inherently designed at the core level. (Like Win9x, OS/2, System 9 earlier)

I really enjoyed how you were able to type four paragraphs, but were unable to type "equal".

It's also marvelous how you emphasized every other word.
"Cool it Shatner, we don't read in the same voice you speak." (maddox)

Solutions.

[AltGrendel]

Hardware: Don't allow DVD drives.

Software 1: Ummm, Anti-virus software? Hello?

Software 2: Run a VM when accessing DVDs.

Best: Run a Linux distro.

Ok, I'm sure that these aren't necessarily the best solutions (except the last one) but it's something.

Re:

[Bert64]

Supply unix based machines for the soldiers to use, don't give them root, make sure media cannot be mounted with "exec" flags...
Or just use standalone dvd players?

Summary full of WIN

[Gothmolly]

"Iraqi soldiers are affected as well."

Wow, a porn virus that can make the jump from DVD to human?

Good old days!

[sm62704]

When I was in Thailand in 1974, htere were only three places to get cassettes: The Base Exchange (other brances called it the Post Exchange), there there were practically no tapes I wanted to hear, but there were blanks; a government-provided tape center with a library of high quality reel to reels with a good selection that you could copy to cassette; or the local market, where you could get poor-quality copies of damned ner anything.

Tha bad part about the bootlegs from town was the fact that they were analog - the quality left much to be desired. Some had skips that came from the LPs they were recorded from.

The good part about the bootlegs from town was the fact that they were analog - you weren't going to infect your cassette player with XCP or some other virus.

-mcgrew

Re:Good old days!

[Lumpy]

I was overseas and bought a lot of bootlegs as well. But I was all digital....

I've never had a bootleg DAT tape infect a DAT player.

I've never had a virus filled CD infect a CD player.

I've never had a Virus filled DVD infect my DVD player.

The answer here is use a hardware player and not a computer. An incredibly simple and cheap solution.

Training issue?

[Fjornir]

With all of the other stuff they pile on recruits during boot wouldn't it be possible to teach them to practice safe hex?

Re:

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:You get what you pay for

[Shoeler]

I have quite a few friends deployed. What you speak of does not happen. The military networks are locked down and virus-checked, etc.

The problem is the soldiers have their personal laptops on unsecured wireless networks they pay for from local providers so they can do what they *WANT* to do, which is surf porn, play MMORPGS (WoW is hugely popular) and other games that allow them to interact with "normal" people from back home. As is usually the case, the pure security concept pushes people to their own solutions which creates huge security issues. You're talking about brave, courageous, amazingly talented strong young men and women who are amazingly stupid about technology. They use Windows because everyone uses it and the guy down the way can help them load their Iraqi porn.

The only way to address this is to accept their habits (porn, games) and address it in a secure way.

In this Army/Navy/AF/etc, that ain't gonna happen.

Let's just say that I may be employed at (but not by) a US Government organization but I use my personal Mac and a personal wireless solution where neither the Mac nor the wireless ever touches their network, just so that I can do simple stuff like research current technology. Happens that some of this research tends to be on sites they consider "gaming" or "non business related" so they filter it. GFY, censors.

MPAA defends US

[kidsizedcoffin]

This must have been what they had in mind when the movie studios insisted on strict region coding on DVD's, they had our best interest in mind all along.

How?

[ta bu shi da yu]

I smell bullshit. How would they be getting viruses just by inserting a DVD? Were they running the executable? And what does it mean by "my memory stick would be filthy with viruses every time I had to go and get documents from my counterpart or his section NCOs."

This seems to be one almighty bad joke. I mean, watching porn... memory "stick" filthy with viruses?

Re:How?

[Bert64]

Windows likes to automatically execute programs on media you insert... Never heard of autorun?
Yes, it's a ridiculously insecure idea, most people wouldn't even have considered the possibility of automatically executing programs on inserted media, but microsoft did for some reason.

Wowzers...

[BobMcD]

This sounds like a fairly big national security issue to me...

Now, I do realize that these computers operate on separate networks, but traveling disks that are frequently infected presents an issue. Or, put another way, a tempting target for foreign intelligence.

And before you jump to the 'impossible' conclusion, consider this: What are those Iraqi officers trading with our soldiers by thumb drive? Is it ALL unsec material? NONE of it is of ANY operational importance? Really? Really, really?

That strains disbelief...

And consider this: If the portable drives were intentionally infected by a custom virus designed by, oh say, a super power, would the sec networks have a chance to detect it?

My network would not. I'm certain of that. And I'm also fairly certain that I have far less BillyWare than they do in their deployment.

Playboy.com?

[Anonymous Coward]

I was stationed in Kuwait in '06-07. We were warned about buying DVDs in Iraq (I would cross the border a couple of times a month) because of viruses. The one specific story i was told was the compromised PCs became part of a botnet which attacked various Israeli internet sites and Playboy.com. I dont know why the skinnies had a mad-on for Hef, i guess they just hate our freedom ;).

Practice safe souks!

[Anarchofascist]

..and you won't get infected. This has been a health and safety message from your friendly neighborhood anarchist.

Imaginative approach

[Lincolnshire Poacher]

• +10 points for clever attack vector.
• +10 points for using a vector which is deeply embarrassing to the target.
• +10 points for SELLING a virus to the target.

Queue the

[Fnord666]

Queue the camel jokes in 3...2...1..

Misleading title

[greyhueofdoubt]

I have spent a good deal of time at these markets, and I can testify that I saw no porn. Ever. I never saw porn, alcohol, or drugs at these markets. Maybe these porn DVDs were passed around sub rosa or something.

Here is what you CAN find in the markets (even on base): Fake cigarettes, fake cigars, fake Rolexes, fake Nikes, fake anything. Imitation Apple products- headphones, iPod cases, even fake iPods. No fake zunes, though...
In an area about the size of a high school gymnasium, about 80% of the space was filled with bootleg DVDs and software. I don't mean bootleg like the MPAA wants you think bootleg; I mean actual printed DVDs out of japan or taiwan. Some were really crappy theater-cams but many were very good copies of promos and the like. I watch 300, letters from Iwo Jima, Black Snake Moan, and many others before or very shortly after theater release. It was awesome :)

I also got all ten (at the time) seasons of south park on 4 DVDs for $25. Sweet.

So, here we have this article that, while it may be true, seems to completely miss the point. It's like saying that, "Magazines such as hustler are causing massive deforestation and are filling our landfills." It is just trying to sensationalize the situation. Which is weird, since there are so many other, BIGGER things out there to write about. Try this, RIAA: The base media server, loaded with ~180 GB of music, is free to anyone who wants to download from it. You can get 180 GB hdds at the BX. Oh and there is the movie server, loaded with hundreds of titles. All free for the taking. And this author chose to write about porn? Whatever. Iraq is the wild, wild middle east. Everything goes.

-b

Re:

[ozbird]

Try this, RIAA ...

"Go ahead - make my day."

The RIAA/MPAA are your classic bully, targeting the weak and vunerable: single mothers, children, grandmothers, homeless people - even dead people. I imagine that taking on any armed force (including pirates, arr!), is on their list right after "hell freezes over".

Patton Meets Pr0N

[Dystopian Rebel]

"You don't win a war by jacking off for your country. You win a war by making the other bastard jack off for ~his~ country!"

Hold on...

[wobbelyheadbob]

I thought supporting piracy was supporting terrorism, so if U.S. troops are buying pirate dvd's (in Iraq of all places) doen't that mean U.S. troops are supporting terrorism??

More than an inconvenience

[bughunter]

We build UAV systems for the US military. Widely used ones. Lately one of the branch's weapons labs has been coming to us and saying "we need a ground system that will operate any UAV or UGV. Why don't you use a computer?"

So the R&D chief goes on a rant (to me, in private): "We've tried sending PCs into deployment, and they come back filthy with 'family videos' and viruses. We try sealing up and enclosing the USB/FW ports and DVD slots, and they come back pried open. No computers."

Customer (to me, during requirements review): "The soldiers get issued WinXP notebooks anyhow. Utilize them."

So I was handed the task of managing the resolution to this showdown. My first thought was, "Porn is not my problem." Second thought, "Hell, give them some clean porn ferchrissakes." Third thought, "oh crap -- we can't certify our product if it is a) in the decision making loop for a certain class of UAV, and b) can run any old crapware, including family videos."

So it's not just a porn problem, but a problem with the inadequacy of the Windows OS itself. I know that this is potential flamebait moderation material, but it's a major thorn in our side: it's not a realtime OS, and even the embedded version of XP isn' real time. And it's susceptibility to viruses and hackers really makes it unsuitable for much more than family photos, letters to Jane, and facebook.

Solution: Give them what they want, on their dime, while spending R&D money to prototype what they need. (Sorry - can't describe it.) Then when the inadequacies become painfully apparent, offer them the alternative, ready for development testing.

Media should be passively displayed, not executed

[dpbsmith]

A lost cause, I suppose, but it seems to me that the root cause of this is a series of insanely bad decisions made by the industry as a whole and by Microsoft in particular, in blurring the line between data and programs in viewable media.

There is no good reason why an email program should willy-nilly try to execute any attachment it sees, and no good reason why a computer should execute stuff on a DVD.

99.99% of the time, the end-user thinks of a .jpg or a DVD as passively viewed content.

An unholy alliance between technical sweetness (oooh, generality), possibilities for commercial exploitation (this DVD could display ads with a "buy" button on them), and DRM, has created a terrible situation.

The mischief comes in when there are so many parties that have an interest in creating media that are not what they appear to be to the end-user.

When the end-user thinks he's just watching something, the system should enforce the will of the user... not the will of the media provider. If the media does what the vendor wants and not what the user wants, that's a bad capability in itself--but it also is a gaping whole for malware which can subvert that capability to purposes neither user nor vendor want.

Cyber warfare

[Fuzzums]

We could have known that porn would be a key weapon in cyber warfare ;)

Please support the troops

[NotBornYesterday]

Folks,

It appears clear to me what we must do. I believe it would be difficult to find a group of people with a larger aggregate porn collection, or larger distributed array of DVD burners, than we who read slashdot. So let's get busy archiving our porn onto DVDs and send them such a vast quantity of smut, no poor GI will have to resort to the virus-infected local stuff over there.

Remember, you don't necessarily need to be an American partiot, you just need to be kinda pervy.

Re:Porn isn't allowed in Iraq

[Dancindan84]

If that's the case, they've (The armed forces) brought this on themselves. Porn isn't illegal, the soldiers are adults and they're away from their significant others (if they have one). Denying it to them in that situation is just asking for them to go underground for it.

Re:

[Dancindan84]

IANAL (or an American for that matter), but I thought US bases were similar to embassies in that they're considered "US soil" and fall under US laws or at least the internal US Military Law. Local laws can often be bizarre and even in contradiction to US laws and customs. Following them on base for each location just doesn't make sense to me.