Houston, We Have Virus Lift-Off

Houston, We Have Virus Lift-Off

Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - by Michael Santo
Surprisingly, this apparently isn't the first time this has happened to NASA. They haven't, to this point, been using antivirus software on the laptops astronauts take into space with them.

A lesson for us all? Yep.

However, the virus wasn't something that would bring the ISS crashing to Earth. The W32.Gammima.AG worm is pretty old: discovered last August. Since it targets passwords to various online games, and the lag from the ISS would be pretty bad, it's safe to say that the astronauts weren't doing anything that the virus would find inviting.

NASA believes the virus may have infected the laptops via a flash drive one of the astronauts used. This certainly makes sense, as the virus propagates by using removable media, according to Symantec.



They plan to put some security measures in place for the future. Makes sense, particularly now that this has been publicized. Can you imagine a hacker really trying to bring down a space station. Nah, not likely, but it could compromise the ability of the astronauts to play Diablo 3 via their LAN in the future.
Via: SpaceRef | News Archive | Tags: virus, RUS, IR
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Comments

By 3vi1 on Aug 27, 2008

>> "They plan to put some security measures in place for the future"

Astronauts, meet FreeBSD. FreeBSD, Astronauts.

By warlord on Aug 27, 2008

These folks are suppose to be the smartest we have...Some times i wonder

By 3vi1 on Aug 27, 2008

Agreed. Everyone knows they should use Macs, just in case Jeff Goldblum needs to interface them to an alien mothership.

By bob_on_the_cob on Aug 27, 2008

warlord:
These folks are suppose to be the smartest we have...Some times i wonder

If I have learned one thing in life it's to never underestimate the stupidity of human beings.

By JonathanD on Aug 27, 2008

No matter how smart some one is, no one person can know everything and no human is perfect ;)

Just nice to know it didn't take over the computer and pull a "I'm sorry Dave but I can't do that"

By Super Dave on Aug 28, 2008

While a virus on the ISS would be very undesirable, it seems more likely that the whole kaboodle might be brought-down by occupant-stupidity. Remember THIS? 

By bob_on_the_cob on Aug 28, 2008

Wow superdave just wow!

 

By Super Dave on Aug 28, 2008

Those astronaut chicks can be pretty feisty! 

By Savage Animal on Aug 29, 2008

I love that story. How much do you have to want a person dead to put on a diaper for your drive cross country to eliminate pit stops?

By bob_on_the_cob on Aug 29, 2008

Savage Animal:
I love that story. How much do you have to want a person dead to put on a diaper for your drive cross country to eliminate pit stops?

You mean you don't were diapers for long trips?

By warlord on Aug 30, 2008

bob_on_the_cob:

Savage Animal:
I love that story. How much do you have to want a person dead to put on a diaper for your drive cross country to eliminate pit stops?

You mean you don't were diapers for long trips?

 

Tell me he did not just type that...lol

By bob_on_the_cob on Aug 30, 2008

warlord:

bob_on_the_cob:

Savage Animal:
I love that story. How much do you have to want a person dead to put on a diaper for your drive cross country to eliminate pit stops?

You mean you don't were diapers for long trips?

 

Tell me he did not just type that...lol

Oh he did!

By warlord on Aug 30, 2008

bob_on_the_cob:

warlord:

bob_on_the_cob:

Savage Animal:
I love that story. How much do you have to want a person dead to put on a diaper for your drive cross country to eliminate pit stops?

You mean you don't were diapers for long trips?

 

Tell me he did not just type that...lol

Oh he did!

Tongue Tied

 

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