How do you transfer a file, especially a top secret government one, without using a USB flash drive, CD/DVD or a memory card in this day and age? By paper and person? In the wake of the WikiLeaks controversy, the U.S. military has decided to ban troops from using removable media to download files.
For those of you who have been keeping up with all the news about WikiLeaks and the distribution of top secret cables, the U.S. military's decision to ban removable media isn't surprising. For those who don't know, here's a crash course: Private first class officer Bradley Manning downloaded thousands of files off SIPRNET (U.S. Department of Defense's computer network used to transmit secret files) and stashed them on a CD disguised as music by Lady Gaga. Manning then handed the files off to WikiLeaks, an organization that specializes in "leaking" important news to the public. The rest as they say is history.
According to Major General Richard Webber, commander of Air Force Network Operations, and the man who issued the ban, the U.S. military's ban is simply for safety and precautionary reasons. Webber hopes that by banning removable media, future WikiLeaks won't happen again.
The funny thing is that Wired's scoop on the ban made no mention about floppy disks. Does the military even still have computers that include a floppy drive? We're chuckling at the thought of some old beige IBM being dusted off and booted up in MS-DOS. That would be something, wouldn't it? Still not amused? Pigeon carrier it is then!
Via Wired UK
