It's Sensitive, But It's Available

You don't need the technical skills of a hacker to get your hands on sensitive military secrets; you just need a Web browser and time to sift through long search results, according to a survey of servers conducted by the Associated Press.

"In a survey of servers run by agencies or companies involved with the military and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Associated Press found dozens of documents that officials refused to release when asked directly, citing troop security," according to an article by the AP.

Among the documents that the AP was able to download off agency and contractor servers:

-- security features and proposed fencing upgrades at Tallil Air Base, a compound in southeastern Iraq.

-- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency aerial surveys of military airfields near Balad and Al Asad, Iraq.

-- maps of buildings and infrastructure at Fort Sill, Okla., on a network managed by Benham Companies LLC.

-- U.S. Central Command aerial photographs and schematics of Camp Bucca, a U.S.-run facility for detainees in Iraq, showing "where U.S. forces keep prisoners and fuel tanks, as well as the locations of security fences, guard towers and other security measures," the AP reported.

Security experts say it is common for agencies and corporations to post documents on servers that are available to the public, thinking the documents cannot be accessed by the public or will be difficult, or impossible, to find.

Hat tip: fedsmith.com