USB Dead Drops are Awesome . . . in Theory

The Thing: USB flash drives installed into walls and columns throughout New York City, quite literally creating an amazing, street-level, physical peer to peer file sharing network.

The Theory: Plug your laptop or other portable device into these USB Dead Drops and download all the incredible files left behind by those who proceeded you. Upload incredible files for those who will come after you.

The Reality: Plug in your laptop or other portable device and download all the incredible files left behind . . . and a bunch of junk . . . and a virus that will fry your hard drive . . . and some spyware that will aid in the theft of your identity.

Of course, as creator of the USB Dead Drops, Aram Bartholl is quick to point out, downloading via the Internet is a risky proposition as well, but most of us give little thought to the danger and download freely. He implores users to always take necessary precautions to ensure the safety of their systems when using the drops.

Translation: Caveat Emptor Downloader

Although Bartholl's original project has been limited to New York City, many fans of the idea have been installing USB Dead Drops in their own cities. Locations of the new drops can be found in the Database and Map.

Want to create your own USB Dead Drop? Bartholl provides this handy guide to get you started.

To find out more about Aram Bartholl and his USB Dead Drops, visit the project homepage.

-Happy Dead Dropping

found via NPR's "Dead Drops:" Plugging Your Laptop Into Strange Places