back to article Whoever recently showed us the secret documents: Do get in touch

We here at The Register recently got the chance to have a look at what appeared to be some most interesting confidential information, from within a large aerospace and defence contractor. We're most grateful for this. However the way the information came to us, combined with the circumstances of the case, is going to make it …

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  1. This post has been deleted by its author

    1. LaeMing
      Happy

      Re: Question

      Can I buy a vowel?

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Question

        I'll have a 'P' please, Bob.

        1. theblackhand

          Re: Question

          Re: I'll have a 'P' please, Bob.

          Can I have an O for awesome?

        2. cortland
          Pint

          Re: Question

          I'm taking one.

          Beer is why.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Question

      If I had to guess, my money would be on it starting with a B.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Thumb Down

        Re: Question

        "If I had to guess, my money would be on it starting with a B."

        Me too.

        And what's more, I'd guess that given the paucity of "large aerospace and defence contractors" that the Reg may well have scared the chickens, and alerted the foxes to the presence of chickens.

        Perhaps next time they'll be more subtle. Or perhaps "subtle" at the Reg means not putting <insert large aerospace and defence contractors name here> in the headline?

        1. Phil O'Sophical Silver badge

          Re: Question

          Or maybe it's not a large aerospace contractor at all, and they're just saying that to throw people off the scent while hoping that anyone who sent them secret documents recently will call back

      2. davemcwish

        Re: Question

        Not necessarily, could be LM or NG. There's loads of others to pick from

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_defense_contractors

      3. J__M__M

        Re: Question

        Yea, right. I'm sure this has absolutely nothing to do with the F-35.

  2. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Oh b*gger

    I knew I'd left it somewhere

  3. Alan Bourke

    And possibly

    involve another completely ridiculous Q where no Q should be ?

    1. This post has been deleted by its author

  4. GettinSadda
    Black Helicopters

    Opens Popcorn

    Sits back and waits for the show!

  5. ukgnome
    Black Helicopters

    Like anyone is going to fall for that old chestnut. This is obviously a cunning trap

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Black Helicopters

      yup, id guess that the el reg was originally funded by some secret CIA slush fund and has been playing the sleeper game waiting for this very situation. one way ticket to hong kong my friend.....you know its your only choice now!

    2. cortland

      A cunning PLAN, perhaps.

  6. Foose
    Pint

    grabs a beer

    this could turn out to be very interesting

  7. Charles Calthrop
    Black Helicopters

    Nothing to hide

    what's the weather like in Cheltenham? bit cool in manchester today, but you probably already knew that

    1. Rich 11
      Black Helicopters

      Re: Nothing to hide

      "what's the weather like in Cheltenham?"

      Overcast and a bit breezy. Chance of showers.

  8. Fred Flintstone Gold badge

    Umm, Lewis..

    .. are you trying to drum up business for Leicester Square?

    After such a post, I suspect the area in front of your offices will be a tad busier with all sorts of people pretending to be "casually loitering" and making far more calls than your average call plan would allow without a mortgage..

    As an experiment, that would actually appeal to my sense of humour :)

  9. Gideon 1
    Stop

    Are you sure you want to do this?

    This could be soliciting for information, and there is no "in the public interest" defence under the Official Secrets Act.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Are you sure you want to do this?

      I re-read the Register message carefully. I can't see where it solicits any information other than the identity of someone who had previously contacted them. I am not aware of anyone's identity being classified since Operation Mincemeat in WWII.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        @mutatedwombat : Re: Are you sure you want to do this?

        How about this bit? :

        "And if anyone else with some information that ought to see the light of day happens to be reading this, the same goes for you too."

        Given the context I'd say 'soliciting' is a reasonable description.

        1. John Sturdy

          Re: @mutatedwombat : Are you sure you want to do this?

          "Given the context I'd say 'soliciting' is a reasonable description."

          But it's also what journalists normally do.

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: @mutatedwombat : Are you sure you want to do this? @John Sturdy

            >"Given the context I'd say 'soliciting' is a reasonable description."

            Maybe they just want to tell him he's been a naughty boy

    2. Ru
      Paris Hilton

      Re: Are you sure you want to do this?

      This could be soliciting for information

      They already have the information that might be considered sensitive.

      1. Lewis Page 1 (Written by Reg staff)

        Re: Re: Are you sure you want to do this?

        We didn't say we had any documents. We said we had SEEN some.

    3. Paul Hovnanian Silver badge

      Re: Are you sure you want to do this?

      I'm sure El Reg has consulted their legal department. It's just a matter of going down to the sub basement, dragging the grate off the pit, throwing some raw meat down and getting an opinion back from the lawyers.

      1. Dave the Cat
        Stop

        Re: Are you sure you want to do this?

        You forgot the chablis to go with the raw meat... ;-)

    4. Intractable Potsherd

      Re: Are you sure you want to do this?

      There is no public interest defence actually written in to the OSA, but juries have been known to find one! Long live "perverse judgments"!

  10. Anigel
    IT Angle

    ok

    Now you have my attention, lets see the goods :)

  11. Ian 62

    And the lightsabres story appears as related...

    On my page at least.

    Coincidence? I think not.

    That walking sticky Chewy was caught with.. It was a real one.. Wasnt it? Wasnt it???!!!

  12. C 18
    Paris Hilton

    Feels like...

    ...viral journalism to me!

    Oh El Reg, you're such a tease...

  13. Piro Silver badge
    Thumb Up

    Ah hah!

    Fantastic stuff. Onward, El Reg!

    Things are getting interesting.

    1. Peter Simpson 1
      Happy

      Re: Ah hah!

      Emergency re-design of LOHAN necessary?

      Enhanced capabilities to be added?

  14. corestore

    Is this the RegisTER or the RegisTRY? And is your new address on Curzon St?

    1. frank ly

      It's the RegisTOR.

  15. Matthew 17

    *Whomever recently showed....

    :)

    It's important, sorry.

    1. aBloke FromEarth
      Headmaster

      Re: *Whomever recently showed....

      Whoever is the subject of the sentence (the person doing the action), so it's correct. ("Who leaked the document?")

      Whomever would be an (indirect) object of the sentence. ("To whom was the document leaked?")

      source: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/whomever

    2. C 18
      Headmaster

      Re: *Whomever recently showed....

      And if it is important then you should find out the right way.

      Whoever recently showed... is the correct form.

      For your reference, replace the who/whom with he/him to see which one is right.

      He recently showed, not him recently showed...

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: *Whomever recently showed....

        « For your reference, replace the who/whom with he/him to see which one is right. »

        You're correct. "Himever recently showed..." doesn't sound quite right. :)

  16. Matthew Smith

    Aurora

    Please say that Project Aurora is true, and the contact has one in their garage.

    1. John Sturdy
      Boffin

      Re: Aurora

      Please say that the next RSPB flight project will do at least Mach 8!

  17. goldcd

    Somewhere in the depths of Prism

    Every person who clicks on "http://regmedia.co.uk/2013/06/11/gpg_public_key.txt" is having a flag switched.

    1. Shippwreck1
      Holmes

      Re: Somewhere in the depths of Prism

      Balls... I clicked it twice!

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Somewhere in the depths of Prism

        "Balls... I clicked it twice!"

        then you're safe. Like a switch - on, and off again.

        p.s. but DO remember how many times you clicked, for (...)/(your own) sake!

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Somewhere in the depths of Prism

          "Just make sure he hits you an even number of times, so you don't end up with amnesia."

          Bart Simpson

      2. Hellcat
        Big Brother

        Re: Somewhere in the depths of Prism

        That toggles it. You're in the clear.

        Of course by coming back to read my comment, you are back on the list.

        Icon.. because for once it directly applies!

    2. John Sturdy
      Black Helicopters

      Re: Somewhere in the depths of Prism

      My flag was raised long ago, I suspect, when I called a friend whose number appeared on some anti-war leaflets (about matters unrelated to war and peace) from the mobile cell covering Shannon Airport (which was already subject of controversy about rendition flights), and got an "error in connection". I tried calling other friends from there, and that worked OK, and I tried calling her from other places, and that worked, so next time I went through Shannon I tried again, and got the same effects.

      Apparently they've stopped doing this now (I guess it was too blatant) but I'd be surprised if trying it doesn't get your mobile number flagged.

    3. corestore

      Re: Somewhere in the depths of Prism

      Aye. But if you're properly configured, they think you're in Ulan BaTOR...

    4. diodesign (Written by Reg staff) Silver badge

      Re: Somewhere in the depths of Prism

      The key is on the page for all to see; it's not perfect but the number of people hitting that will be far higher than the .txt file. We may embed the key in all future pages to widen the net.

      C.

    5. Piro Silver badge

      Re: Somewhere in the depths of Prism

      Good thing it was re-posted on the article. Clicked the key for good measure too.

    6. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Somewhere in the depths of Prism

      No, no, no and thrice no. So I can't count, sue me. Everyboydy who clicked on the article is having a switch flicked, unlike those who bought the Ultimate O and have had to return it. Anyway to save the NSA the trouble, it's not me, nobody tells me anything, so much so I know less than Manuel.

    7. SoaG

      Re: Somewhere in the depths of Prism

      "Every person who clicks on "http://regmedia.co.uk/2013/06/11/gpg_public_key.txt" is having a flag switched."

      NSA ,might be a bit swamped today, I wouldn't worry about it...

      http://trollthensa.com

    8. cortland
      Coat

      Re: Somewhere in the depths of Prism

      I'd rather fight:

      http://file.vintageadbrowser.com/q5jzveojkhwhfw.jpg

  18. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Popcorn ready

    I've got the popcorn and the snacks ready. Lets go......

  19. Khaptain Silver badge
    Holmes

    Maybe its not really and AeroSpace and Defense contractor

    This could actually be a vey cunning and subtle plan by El Reg to finally overthrow Governements, Despots, Non Payers of Tax, Chinese hackers or even the NSA.

    There are indeed some very cunning people at El Reg.......definately not the usual bunch of pigistes de l'informatique.

  20. smudge
    Black Helicopters

    Do tell how many responses you get...

    ...and how many said "It was me!", and came from security/intelligence services.

  21. I ain't Spartacus Gold badge
    Devil

    I'm sorry, it was me.

    But details of the Christmas party have been changed, the nice lady has since laid down her pole and retired, the goat is receiving treatment and the contamination in the Marmite factory has been dealt with. I have been contacted by the lawyers and informed that should I pass on any further photographs then my life won't be worth living - so you'll have to resort to Playmobil for the rest...

    1. This post has been deleted by its author

    2. John Brown (no body) Silver badge
      Devil

      Re: I'm sorry, it was me.

      Thank you updating us on the latest goings on in at your summer house in Hungary. Did you ever get that eel infestation in your hovercraft sorted out? We'd love to come and visit but Julian is allergic to eels.

    3. Desidero

      Re: I'm sorry, it was me.

      The nerve of this freak - obviously it was *me*, and I meant to send it to "The Reg" meaning Regis Philben & not some blighty lunatic farm for the techno obsessed.

      I realized when you posted your PCP code. Mine is "24ll1tss1sdrwkcab3fil2r3wsna3ht", though if you're concerned I can double encrypt for best security using ROT13

  22. Anonymous Coward
    Joke

    It's just a plot...

    be aware we've just moved offices

    Just moved offices without a nice and cosy office warming party with all the commentards?

    I think this is just an elaborate plot to hide the obvious truth from us ;)

    1. davemcwish

      Re: It's just a plot...

      I bet your former* moderatrix-in-chief got an invite.

      *http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/06/30/moderatrix_off/

  23. Lee D Silver badge

    Ooh, interesting.

    But, to be honest, if they'd wanted to tell you who they were, they'd probably have already done so.

    It's not a question of how this person contacts the Reg but how the Reg contacts them back. Or are we going to have a series of messages put through the front page to that anonymous person (or something in some obscure comment somewhere?). How will you communicate back?

    That, it seems, is the weak link. That person has to give you a contact detail that is correlative to their activities, even if it's through some anonymous webmail passed through Tor.

    But still... Oooh...

    1. jai

      El Reg doesn't have a classified ads section, so such secrecy and skulduggery needs to be conducted on the front page headlines.

      1. Paul Hovnanian Silver badge

        Chalk 'X' marks are appearing on post boxes all over London.

        1. davemcwish
          Holmes

          X ?

          Surely dancing men ?

    2. Tom 13
      Black Helicopters

      Re: How will you communicate back?

      I'm guessing steganography. The original contact contain instructions on how to embed the information. Broadcasting the message alleviates the point to point connection that makes it easier to isolate the leaker. The next step is to check the mailbox by Lewis's favorite pub for stray chalk marks.

      1. Ken Hagan Gold badge

        Re: How will you communicate back?

        "I'm guessing steganography."

        That would explain some of Lester's bootnotes.

    3. keithpeter Silver badge
      Windows

      "Or are we going to have a series of messages put through the front page to that anonymous person (or something in some obscure comment somewhere?). How will you communicate back?"

      Its 'Eadon' isn't it.

      There is a message hidden in small snippets distributed over every 200 Eadon comments.

      You'll be selling filing cabinets for £35.57 next...

      The Tramp: I'm selling Big Issues just down from your front door. The wooly hat has a high resolution camera concealed in the bobble.

  24. Diogenes
    Angel

    I'm Brian

    and so is my wife ,

    No no not Brian , I mean I am Spartacus

  25. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    it wasnt me but can i just say:

    The eagle has flown over the chicken shed, the eggs have been boiled. The milkman shall bring more. Prepare the salt and pepper for the scrambled eggs.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: it wasnt me but can i just say:

      Eagle has been scrambled and the eggs have been flown inside the milkman.

      Call Martha Stewart, we're having a dinner party.

      :wink wink:

      :honk honk:

    2. Tom 13

      Re: it wasnt me but can i just say:

      Just remember to flush.

  26. Justice
    Go

    Hmmmm...

    Gentlemen, you had my curiosity. But now you have my attention

  27. Frankee Llonnygog

    Suggestion

    "However the way the information came to us, combined with the circumstances of the case, is going to make it difficult for us to proceed with the story without being able to communicate with our source."

    Just let the pigeon go and ask Dick Dastardly to follow it

  28. Omgwtfbbqtime
    Facepalm

    Just because it's a defense contractor

    Does not mean it has anything at all to do with something covered by the OSA.

    More likely to do with financial shennanigans like the one a few months ago where a scandinavian defense contractor* dropped a British defense contractor** in it over alleged* payments to foreign government officials.....

    I believe the original story was covered here too.

    * They also make rather nice cars I hear.

    ** guess who!

    *** alleged for my safety, though since I havent used any names I don't think it would fall under libel anyway.

    1. davemcwish

      Re: scandinavian defense contractor*

      If it's the one I'm thinking of, the car division went bankrupt then got bought back by the Chinese.

      IMHO, they used to be OK but failed to keep up with the competition.

  29. davemcwish

    At least they're using GPG I suppose

    Who knows what Symantec have done to the original PGP.....

  30. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    This must be a joke

    Playing around with any confidential aerospace defense contractor information is a good way to spend a long time at the Iron Bar Hotel.

  31. btrower

    RevengeOfTheNerds

    Play on. EOM

  32. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Public Keys ...

    You have keys to encrypt messages but don't bother with an SSL certificate to protect user logins?

  33. Herby

    I've got the Yo-Yo

    I've got the string

    Sorry, it goes downhill from there.

  34. Mike Tubby
    Go

    As anyone should know....

    As anyone that has watched 'Chuck' [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_(TV_series) [ should know, its not called "Prism", not it is called "Aurora" ... its called THE INTERCEPT ;-)

    G

  35. ciaran
    Black Helicopters

    Buzz on a frech forum about a secret video

    There's a lot of huffing and puffing on a french aeronautic forum about a video showing the Rafale doing a "gun kill" on a F-22. Apparently someone is looking for a way to publish without leaving any fingerprints. Might be some connection to whatever the Register has gotten their sticky hands on...

    1. arbrefeu

      Re: Buzz on a frech forum about a secret video

      for the french sub in the gom>? or forrelz.?

  36. Captain DaFt

    >golf clap<

    Well played, you've just secured at least two weeks uptime and max speed via the NSA's routers whilst they monitor the site!

  37. WatAWorld

    Why don't news organizations routinely have their PGP public keys on their contact pages?

    Why don't news organizations routinely have their PGP public keys on their contact pages?

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Why don't news organizations routinely have their PGP public keys on their contact pages?

      Probably because if you are not a geek you wont know what to do with with one. El Reg readers on the other hand...

  38. All names Taken

    El Reg reaches the big time?

    Well, does it?

  39. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    FreeNSA

    that would make a great NAS in tha 'hood

  40. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Interesting

    My hypothesis for the "Wow!" signal.

    Say a few years from now. the outgoing signal we sent encounters a small wormhole, with a time displacement that sends it back to late 1977.

    Explains the "Water hole" frequency, non repeatability, and the unusual modulation, exactly what you would expect from a point source focussed on a nearby star.

    I propose that NASA search the nearby systems for unusual HFGW emissions that you might expect from a small E-R bridge, Kerr rotating black hole etc.

    Can't be that hard, just use an accelerometer set or something a bit more sensitive at the L1 or L2 point.

    Perhaps this information is related to the "Aurora" etc? Rumoured to use plasma stealth, optical camouflage and an onboard nucleonic drive based on an artificially created isotope.

    "Element 115" was actually misinformation to divert the public away from the real, lighter element used for the drive which is made using a similar method to that used for generating plutonium.

    I think they used something based on an accelerator driven system as this would explain the large "lines" seen on the Nellis AFB pictures.

    Also has anyone ever been in the abandoned facility in Texas, as this would be THE perfect place to hide a clandestine particle accelerator as everyone believes it to be disused.

    Any work there can be passed off as "routine maintenance" or "installing a data centre" etc.

  41. All names Taken
    Joke

    Wont me mister - I were never even there!

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