Interesting Intersection of Art, Technology, and Espionage
Le Samourai
Honolulu, HIPosts: 573MI6 Agent
From the Guardian:
Read the story here: http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/shortcuts/2015/mar/08/dead-drops-what-to-do-if-you-see-a-usb-stick-sticking-out-of-a-wall
And here's their manifesto:
As a pretentious artsy-fartsy type who loves spy stuff, I find this all pretty cool.
In the early days of espionage, spies needed a way to exchange sensitive material in public without meeting: a system of “dead drops” was developed (distinct from a “live drop”, when spies met). A small hollow behind a loose brick in an alleyway wall or under a flagstone on a towpath were perfect for stashing documents for contacts to pick up later.
But in 2010, Berlin-based artist Aram Bartholl decided to adapt the idea for public use. His Dead Drops involve people hiding USB flash drives in cities around the world and embedding them into walls, fences and kerbs. The idea is that you look up their location, access the drive, and do what you see fit with the files – add your own, remove or copy them over.
Read the story here: http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/shortcuts/2015/mar/08/dead-drops-what-to-do-if-you-see-a-usb-stick-sticking-out-of-a-wall
And here's their manifesto:
The Dead Drops Manifesto
Dead Drops is an anonymous, offline, peer to peer file-sharing network in public space. Anyone can access a Dead Drop and everyone may install a Dead Drop in their neighborhood/city. A Dead Drop must be public accessible. A Dead Drop inside closed buildings or private places with limited or temporary access is not a Dead Drop. A real Dead Drop mounts as read and writeable mass storage drive without any custom software. Dead Drops don’t need to be synced or connected to each other. Each Dead Drop is singular in its existence. A very beautiful Dead Drop shows only the metal sheath enclosed type-A USB plug and is cemented into walls.You would hardly notice it. Dead Drops don’t need any cables or wireless technology. Your knees on the ground or a dirty jacket on the wall is what it takes share files offline. A Dead Drop is a naked piece of passively powered Universal Serial Bus technology embedded into the city, the only true public space. In an era of growing clouds and fancy new devices without access to local files we need to rethink the freedom and distribution of data. The Dead Drops movement is on its way for change!
Free your data to the public domain in cement! Make your own Dead Drop now! Un-cloud your files today!!!
As a pretentious artsy-fartsy type who loves spy stuff, I find this all pretty cool.
—Le Samourai
A Gent in Training.... A blog about my continuing efforts to be improve myself, be a better person, and lead a good life. It incorporates such far flung topics as fitness, self defense, music, style, food and drink, and personal philosophy.
Agent In Training
A Gent in Training.... A blog about my continuing efforts to be improve myself, be a better person, and lead a good life. It incorporates such far flung topics as fitness, self defense, music, style, food and drink, and personal philosophy.
Agent In Training
Comments
London is full of famous dead drops from the past. Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens was at one time used by at least four opposing 'secret services'.
Several Stick type USB embeds have also been uncovered around famous sites in recent years, mostly blank with no information. Those are the ones made public.
Without sounding stupid... but sharing what exactly???
Auric Goldfinger did a few dead drops in the novel too, mind.
I get the Geo-cashing... really cool in fact.
But what is with the media sharing... I mean, do you add stuff to the USB drives?
I'm afraid I'm no good at it. I used to write fiction in my boyhood but I stick to non-fiction these days and that's hard enough to write!
It'd be a pleasure. I'll be starting the thread tomorrow, but give me a shout if you need any more info.
I'm looking forward to it too.
Just pointing it out.
(Falls about lauhing) Thanks Sergent Wilson. I mean Captain Scarlet! That made me chuckle that did.
Something more substantial and getting it published -{ I'd recommend you
Check out The Ares Virus, by A.P.Bateman. -{ Who used to post here as
TheSecretAgent. It's a brilliant thriller ( I'm almost finished it on kindle) might
Give you an idea of what's possible ?
Sadly I think that's the problem. When the likes of Me compare , my humble
( Crappy) offerings to those with a talent, it's the fear of embarrassment, stops
You hitting the submit button.