International Space Station Laptops infected with Computer Virus
Posted
Thursday, August 28, 2008 11:18 AM
by
hwaldron
Thankfully no critical systems are affected by this virus which is designed to steal passwords from computer games. The virus may have infected these laptops through an infected USB flash drive. AV protection should be active when any information is exchanged by email, IM, CDs, websites, or USB flash drives. NASA will be taking steps to clean these systems and prevent future problems.
International Space Station Laptops infected with Computer Virus
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7583805.stm
http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/archives/00001489.html
QUOTE: A computer virus is alive and well on the International Space Station (ISS). Nasa has confirmed that laptops carried to the ISS in July were infected with a virus known as Gammima.AG. The worm was first detected on Earth in August 2007 and lurks on infected machines waiting to steal login names for popular online games.
Nasa told SpaceRef that no command or control systems of the ISS were at risk from the malicious program.The laptops infected with the virus were used to run nutritional programs and let the astronauts periodically send e-mail back to Earth. The laptops carried by astronauts reportedly do not have any anti-virus software on them to prevent infection.
Nasa is working with partners on the ISS to find out how the virus got on to the laptop in the first place. It is thought that the virus might have travelled via a flash or USB drive owned by an astronaut and taken into space. The space agency also plans to put in place security systems to stop such incidents happening in the future.