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David Petraeus, Paula Broadwell Used Electronic 'Dropbox' To Communicate, Official Says

Petraeus, Broadwell Used Unusual Method To Communicate During Affair
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Senior Editor, Breaking News, HuffPost

Since David Petraeus resigned as CIA director Friday over his affair with his biographer Paula Broadwell, a flurry of new information has been exposed, including details on the unusual way the two communicated.

The AP reports:

Petraeus and Broadwell apparently used a trick, known to terrorists and teenagers alike, to conceal their email traffic, one of the law enforcement officials said.

Rather than transmitting emails to the other's inbox, they composed at least some messages and instead of transmitting them, left them in a draft folder or in an electronic "dropbox," the official said. Then the other person could log onto the same account and read the draft emails there. This avoids creating an email trail that is easier for outsiders to intercept or trace.

Petraeus isn't the only one under investigation -- Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the Pentagon is also looking into emails from Gen. John Allen to a Florida woman involved in the case.

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Before You Go

David And Holly Petraeus
Super Bowl XLIII Football(01 of18)
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CIA-Director David Petraeus(02 of18)
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Gen. Petraeus Testifies At Senate Confirmation Hearing(03 of18)
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WASHINGTON - JUNE 29: U.S. Gen. David Petraeus, the commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, speaks during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee as his wife Holly Petraeus listens on Capitol Hill June 29, 2010 in Washington, DC. Petraeus has been appointed by U.S. President Barack Obama to replace U.S. Gen. Stanley McCrystal as commander of the United States Forces Afghanistan. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Defense Secretary Panetta Holds Briefing At Pentagon(04 of18)
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ARLINGTON, VA - OCTOBER 18: Holly Petraeus (R), assistant director for the Office of Servicemember Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, speaks as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy Chuck Milam looks on during a news briefing October 18, 2012 at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The Pentagon held a briefing on efforts to enhance the financial health of the force. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Petraeus Retirement(05 of18)
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Petraeus Intelligence(06 of18)
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Fort Cambell General Returns(07 of18)
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CIA Director David Petraeus Rings The Opening Bell At The New York Stock Exchange(08 of18)
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NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 18: Central Intelligence Agency Director David Petraeus walks the floor of the New York Stock Exchange to ring the Opening Bell as the CIA Commemorates it's 65th Anniversary on September 18, 2012 in New York City. Stocks fell in early trading as investors continued to be concerned about Europe and the global economy. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Biden Petraeus CIA(09 of18)
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CIA-Direktor David Petraeus zurueckgetreten(10 of18)
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CIA Director David Petraeus, testifies b(11 of18)
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CIA Director David Petraeus, testifies before the US Senate Intelligence Committee during a full committee hearing on 'World Wide Threats.' on January 31, 2012 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Witnesses include: Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, FBI Director Robert Mueller(L); Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Ronald Burgess; National Counter terrorism Center Director Matthew Olsen; Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research Philip Goldberg; and Homeland Security Undersecretary for Intelligence and Analysis Caryn Wagner. AFP PHOTO/Karen BLEIER (Photo credit should read KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Military Family Spending(12 of18)
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Defense Secretary Panetta Holds Briefing At Pentagon(13 of18)
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ARLINGTON, VA - OCTOBER 18: Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy Chuck Milam (R) speaks as Holly Petraeus, assistant director for the Office of Servicemember Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, looks on during a news briefing October 18, 2012 at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The Pentagon held a briefing on efforts to enhance the financial health of the force. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Biden Petraeus CIA(14 of18)
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House Holds Hearing On Protecting Service Members In Consumer Financial Marketplace(15 of18)
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WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 03: Holly Petraeus, assistant director for service member affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, participates in a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, on November 3, 2011 in Washington, DC. The committee heard testimony from Petraeus on protecting veterans and active service members and their families in the consumer financial marketplace. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
House Holds Hearing On Protecting Service Members In Consumer Financial Marketplace(16 of18)
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WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 03: (L-R) Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) introduces himself to Holly Petraeus, assistant director for service member affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, during a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, on November 3, 2011 in Washington, DC. The committee heard testimony from Petraeus on protecting veterans and active service members and their families in the consumer financial marketplace. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Petraeus Retirement(17 of18)
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David Petraeus Sworn In As CIA Director(18 of18)
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WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 06: Vice President Joseph Biden (R) swears in David Petraeus (C) to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, while his wife Holly Petraeus holds a Bible, in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, on September 6, 2011 in Washington, DC. General Petraeus retired from the U.S. Army last week, and has now become the 20th director of the CIA. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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