Dead Drops: A New Peer-to-Peer File-Sharing Network

Dead Drops: A New Peer-to-Peer File-Sharing Network

As part of an inventive art project titled “Dead Drops,” Aram Bartoll has embedded countless USB drives into walls, buildings, and curbs around New York City. Why? To create an anonymous, offline file-sharing network in a completely open and public space. Each dead drop contains a readme.txt file explaining the project.

So, essentially, passersby can upload or download random files from the sticks. Yes, most people might fear catching a virus from a mean-spirited uploader, but the curiosity of what else might be on the drives would likely surpass that worry.

The dead drops can be found here:
87 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn, NY (Makerbot)
Empire Fulton Ferry Park, Brooklyn, NY (Dumbo)
235 Bowery, NY (New Museum)
Union Square, NY (Subway Station 14th St)
540 West 21st Street, NY (Eyebeam)