Un-cloud your files in cement! ‘Dead Drops’ is an anonymous, offline, peer to peer file-sharing network in public space.
‘Dead Drops’ is an anonymous, offline, peer to peer file-sharing network in public space. USB flash drives are embedded into walls, buildings and curbs accessible to anybody in public space. Everyone is invited to drop or find files on a dead drop. Plug your laptop to a wall, house or pole to share your favorite files and data. Each dead drop is installed empty except a readme.txt file explaining the project. ‘Dead Drops’ is open to participation. If you want to install a dead drop in your city/neighborhood follow the ‘how to’ instructions and submit the location and pictures.
I am a Berlin based media artist and started the ‘Dead Drops’ project during my stay in NYC at EYEBEAM as artist in residence, October 2010. Dead Drops was part of the show “Talk to Me” at the MoMa July-Nov 2011.
Aram Bartholl 2010
Dead Drops ‘How to’ video
The first 5 Dead Drops were installed by Aram Bartholl in NYC, Oct. 2010.
Prefer YouTube? -> youtube.com/watch?v=hwohadcUv4A
- Definition of the term Dead drop (Wikipedia)
- Initial Dead Drops preview release post (with 300++ hilarious comments!)
- 1st 5 Dead Drops NYC flickr set
DeadDrops database
Database browsing full size window
The first 5 Dead Drops were installed by Aram Bartholl in NYC, October 2010
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)
Dead Drops picture set on flickr
295 responses to “About”
Hi all,
I just released a very first, very rough, very limited version of DeaddropDroid to the Android market, a little tool that can help you locate deaddrops from an Android phone.
It was fun learning Java and the Android platform (both new to me); hopefully it’s of use for all you deaddroppers.
Comments are welcome.
Sorry no web page yet from my side; that will come sooner or later.
Isn’t this making the spread of various worms, virus’ and so on too easy for anyone that want to?
Yes it is – but it isn´t to.
Because hacker want to hack- and build big networks – and not a lonely computer that contact to a building enywhere in the world. ;) There is no “profit”… And they´ll think this projekt is cool to! :D
Is this safe no viruses?
@Phil
Of course there are going to be viruses. Anyone can plug in and put whatever they want onto these flash drives. Just get some good anti-virus software and use a netbook that you don’t use for anything critical.
Not a very well thought out idea. USB flash drives are far too fragile. Basically vandalism (chipping away at walls?), and a waste of a flash drive. The video shows the absolutely absurd usage of putting a notebook directly into the usb flash drive… All it would take is for one person to release the weight of that notebook, or move it incorrectly, and the usb drive plug is bent or snapped off permanently and forever useless. I’d think that he would at LEAST advise using a usb extension cable…
I’m looking forward to seeing these connected to an 120 Volt power grid, to fry any moron who is stupid enough to plug this into their notebooks…