Stolen NASA Laptop Had Space Station Control Code 79
astroengine writes "NASA had 5,408 computer security lapses in 2010 and 2011, including the March 2011 loss of a laptop computer that contained algorithms used to command and control the International Space Station, the agency's inspector general told Congress Wednesday. According to his statement (PDF), 'These incidents spanned a wide continuum from individuals testing their skill to break into NASA systems, to well-organized criminal enterprises hacking for profit, to intrusions that may have been sponsored by foreign intelligence services seeking to further their countries’ objectives.'"
Set your controls (Score:5, Funny)
Cue HAL 9000... (Score:5, Funny)
Stop using the LCARS Operating System (Score:2, Funny)
Algorithm != control (Score:4, Funny)
This doesn't sound like much of an actual threat. If you can't physically access the machine, what good does having its "algorithms" do you ? What, is Elon Musk going to carry this up to the ISS on the Dragon and take over the air handling system ?
Re:Algorithm != control (Score:3, Funny)
Hmmm... (Score:5, Funny)
What is this "Plumbing Subroutines" folder? And why does ZoneAlarm have it allowed to connect to ISS.nasa.gov?
Whoops... [space.com]
Re:Set your controls (Score:2, Funny)
Let me explain something to you! (Score:2, Funny)
YOu see, hackers could get a hold of that code and design a worm and virus around it. Then, by uplinking to a satellite and hacking into the ISS' control systems from that, they could implant the virus and take over the ISS. Then from there, they order the ISS to fire its thrusters and crash into the Whitehouse. BUT, it will be stopped because Chris Pine, after getting his ass kicked by oen of the Russian astronauts, will get up there and stop it with some clever out witting of the astronauts.
So, don't you see?! This has some serious reprocussions in regards to some really really shitty Hollywood script being written and causing all of us much SciFi or SyFy pain. Actually, if it were SyFy, there's be ghosts involved.
Re:Set your controls (Score:5, Funny)
To most folks, that reference will make about as much sense as someone typing ummagumma.
Re:Meh, just some source code (Score:5, Funny)
So they're going to find an alien fighter in the bowels of Area 51, fly it up to the ISS and upload a virus?
Sounds like the plot of a dumb science fiction movie.
Re:God forbid someone hacks 40 year old tech (Score:5, Funny)
Bet your iPhone would have trouble surivivng a class M flare too.