Marine One Helicopter Specs Appear on P2P Network

A company that monitors peer-to-peer file-sharing networks has discovered a critical security leak, a file containing entire blueprints and avionics package for Marine One on such a network.

The report first appeared via Pittsburgh NBC affliate WPXI, as the monitoring firm was a local one, Tiversa, in Cranberry Township, PA.

Bob Boback, CEO of Tiversa, said,

"We found a file containing entire blueprints and avionics package for Marine One,which is the president's helicopter. What appears to be a defense contractor in Bethesda, MD had a file sharing program on one of their systems that also contained highly sensitive blueprints for Marine One."

The IP address of the leaked file appears to be in Tehran, Iran. Boback added:

"When downloading one of these file-sharing programs, you are effectively allowing others around the world to access your hard drive."

That's true, but his description is a little simplistic. Generally the program will created a folder for shared files, or you will specify a folder or drive for shared files, but not your entire hard drive. If that's what this person did, he make a big mistake.

In fact, it might cost him or her their job. Retired Gen. Wesley Clark, an adviser to Tiversa, said:

"We found where this information came from. We know exactly what computer it came from. I'm sure that person is embarrassed and may even lose their job, but we know where it came from and we know where it went."

This is another case of security measures being bypassed by the human element, and it's not that uncommon. Boback added:

"We've noticed it out of Pakistan, Yemen, Qatar, and China. They are actively searching for information that is disclosed in this fashion because it is a great source of intelligence."

There has been criticism of late over the cost of the new fleet of 28 VH-71 Marine One helicopters which through cost overruns have now reached a price tag of $11.2 billion. It's unclear from the report if it's the new or current fleet whose security has been breached.

Despite criticism of the cost of the new fleet, it should be remembered the new helicopter program has been in progress for years, so it's not "Obama's helicopter," per se. In fact, the contract for the new VH-71 helicopters was awarded by the Navy to Lockheed Martin in 2005.

The President currently has a fleet of Sikorsky VH-3D Sea Kings and VH-60N Black Hawks, but some of them have been in service for over three decades.