In an interesting twist in the world of USB, artist Aram Bartholl was inspired to install USB flash drives in random places for all to plug in and upload or download files. It could be in the wall of a building in NYC, a fountain in Italy, a tree in a forest somewhere. Bartholl started it out as an art installation project in New York City. He would use mortar to cement a USB drive, presumably with files on it, into a structure. The point is for anyone with a computer to come along and plug into the USB flash drive – rather than plugging the USB drive into the computer. Files could then be downloaded from the drive or uploaded to it – if there is space.

Bartholl is calling this the Dead Drop project. And if it were a gorgeous drop it could be a Drop Dead gorgeous, Dead Drop? One never knows. After Bartholl’s first few USB flash drive installation escapades, he encouraged others to do the same. Soon enough from Germany to Kitchener, Ontario, to Australia, anonymous people were furtively checking out unwatched spots for USB flash drive, dead drops. It isn’t clear what files are on these USB drives but in at least one case, a musician is hoping to distribute music through this USB network. In other cases folks are worried about viruses being loaded on the USB drives, ready to infect the next gullible computer. What would you put on a Dead Drop USB?