The secrets of a hard drive
Updated on 07 May 2009
Researchers find many of the 300 computer hard drives they investigated contain information that could threaten commercial or personal privacy.
They studied the drives, bought through computer auctions and on eBay, and found the launch procedures for an American missile system, confidential business plans, bank account details and medical records among other sensitive information.
BT purchased the hard drives and they were examined by researchers in the UK, the USA and Australia.
What they found inside them is remarkable. It included test launch procedures for the US's Terminal High Altitude Area Defence ground-to-air missile system on a drive once owned by contractor Lockheed Martin.
That drive cost just $12.99. It also included blueprints of facilities, together with the social security details of restricted personnel, which could be used for corporate or state-sponsored espionage.
Lockheed Martin told Channel4 News that they are currently unaware of the loss of data relating to the missile system but cannot comment further until they have fully examined the hard drive in question.
The company is valued at $31bn so it's unlikely that they would have intentionally sold a hard drive worth just 13 dollars.
It has been handed to the FBI for investigation.
But the data found is not just from the USA. Major companies and public bodies in the UK also left information on hard drives sold on eBay.
