NASA continues to sell used computers with classified data

Usually in films about corporate espionage (or scientific espionage), the main characters are shown passing fire, water and copper pipes to obtain a coveted piece of information. However, in real life everything is simpler - it is enough for spies to track sales of outdated computers that suit organizations like NASA. More than once or more than two ordinary, law-abiding citizens have found confidential information on the hard drives of purchased PCs or laptops that a mere mortal cannot access in the usual way. But all the same, careless sales organizers sell equipment with such data that it can recoup the money spent on equipment thousands of times. Now on this occasion, even an official investigation is being conducted inside NASA.

Verification is vital, as the 30-year period of the space program is nearing its end, and the agency is going to arrange a massive sale of obsolete moral and physical equipment. In principle, the undertaking is quite rational, except for the fact how much confidential information is transmitted is unclear to whom.

The first check showed that outdated equipment can carry completely outdated information, which in the right hands can turn into hundreds of millions. Security breaches have been identified in many parts of NASA, including those that make up the agency’s main body. For example, on some hard drives of old PCs there were pieces of information about the Shuttle program. Yes, the information is a little outdated, but it has not lost relevance.

It is worth noting that the same check revealed in only one case the sale of more than a dozen used computers and laptops, on the hard drives of which contained extremely important, albeit fragmented information about the US space program. Needless to say, this information is kept as secret as possible.

In general, if you want to get secret information, stop hacking the server, just buy what you sell at NASA sales. Interestingly, and the Pentagon or the CIA arrange such sales?

Via bbc