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(Mis)Uses of Technology

by Mike Masnick

Wed, Aug 27th 2008 5:48pm




Filed Under:
nasa, space, viruses


Viruses... In... Spaaaaaaaaace

from the for-you-muppet-fans dept

NASA is admitting that laptop brought to the international space station in July apparently contained a virus designed to swipe user passwords, though they're not sure how it happened. The computers don't control anything mission critical, but are used by astronauts to send email and to track their nutritional programs. The computers were never connected to the internet, so NASA is guessing that an astronaut had an infected USB key or something that resulted in the virus getting onto the computer.

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  •  
    identicon
    Jake, Aug 27th, 2008 @ 6:17pm

    You'd kind of think that someone who spends a lot of time almost entirely dependent on computers for their survival would be a bit more careful about malware.
    Mind you, doesn't the Shuttle still largely depend on embedded DOS?

     

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  •  
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    lee, Aug 27th, 2008 @ 6:21pm

    Virus's in space

    NASA: When will you ever learn? Everybody get a MAC!

     

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    •  
      identicon
      Sheesh, Aug 27th, 2008 @ 7:22pm

      Re: Virus's in space

      NASA already tried MAC back in the day. After the Challenger they moved to PC... lord, I apologize...

       

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    •  
      identicon
      tcamp17, Aug 27th, 2008 @ 9:08pm

      Re: Virus's in space

      Why? Mac is easier to hack than Windoze!!

       

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    •  
      identicon
      Ray, Aug 28th, 2008 @ 1:41am

      Re: Virus's in space

      Mac isn't the best OS to get. Windows offers compatibility with the majority of computer programs, although if you are looking for flexibility, not in Windows, go for Linux.

       

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    •  
      identicon
      huh?, Aug 28th, 2008 @ 5:36am

      Re: Virus's in space

      hows that going to help? PCs dont just get viruses, stupid people using PCs get viruses. All macs do is help protect the uneducated. The puter is not the problem! You sound like a MAC user, so I would not expect you to know this. You probably shouldn't use a pc

       

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  •  
    identicon
    Brandon, Aug 27th, 2008 @ 6:22pm

    Not any user password

    The virus was meant for getting game usernames and passwords (like WoW and Steam and such). Not really a security threat.

     

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  •  
    identicon
    Ian, Aug 27th, 2008 @ 6:37pm

    E-mail with no internet?

    "...used by astronauts to send email..."
    "The computers were never connected to the internet..."

    Sign me up.

     

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    •  
      identicon
      hegemon13, Aug 27th, 2008 @ 7:58pm

      Re: E-mail with no internet?

      I would assume this means a sort of closed-circuit email.

       

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    •  
      identicon
      Dan, Aug 28th, 2008 @ 7:27am

      Re: E-mail with no internet?

      Nasa can do that and still had 2 vehicles blow up? Move some of those IT guys over to the mechanical engineering department.

      LOL!

       

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  •  
    identicon
    Marilynn, Aug 27th, 2008 @ 6:39pm

    Re: Not any user password

    Well at least it's not so bad since it's for games or some Gamer is now playing one realistic game of space shuttle.

    http://www.TheNaturalSapphireCompany.com

     

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  •  
    identicon
    Chunky Vomit, Aug 27th, 2008 @ 7:11pm

    Hopefully we don't have astronauts paying their bills from space. :)

     

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  •  
    identicon
    Michael Foord, Aug 28th, 2008 @ 12:52am

    Uhm....

    How can they be used to send email *and* never connected to the internet?

     

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  •  
    identicon
    Charming Charlie, Aug 28th, 2008 @ 1:33am

    They pee into a device which creates suction around their genitals. That they still need internet porn makes me question whether we really have our best and brightest in space.

     

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  •  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Aug 28th, 2008 @ 6:04am

    Indepenence Day

    No, you've got it all wrong.
    They took it out there so that they could infect the mother ship inoder to take down its shield.

     

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  •  
    identicon
    Omali, Aug 28th, 2008 @ 6:17am

    Ok, who's the gamer?

    I can just picture this guy updating his blog:

    "When I find out who hacked my WOW account, you can say goodbye family, hello Guantanamo Bay"

     

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  •  
    identicon
    Dan, Aug 28th, 2008 @ 7:45am

    We all noticed Mike's Pig's in Space reference. I bet his favorite character was either the Swedish Chief, or Beaker.

     

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  •  
    icon
    GeneralEmergency (profile), Aug 28th, 2008 @ 10:56am

    In Space...

    ...nobody can hear you... reboot... reboot... reboot... reboot... reboot... reboot... reboot... reboot... reboot... reboot... reboot... reboot... reboot

     

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  •  
    identicon
    another mike, Aug 28th, 2008 @ 1:30pm

    could be worse

    The computer could be homicidal, not just infected.

    "Open the pod bay doors HAL."
    "I'm sorry, Dave, I can't do that."

     

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  •  
    identicon
    J, Aug 28th, 2008 @ 3:59pm

    Isn't there a Joke somewhere here????

    Isn't there a Joke somewhere here????

    Even a Rocket Scientist cannot figure out to manage Antivirus software.

    Poor guy is probably having his house raided while he is floating around outerspace. As they check his home computer

     

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  •  
    identicon
    Dallin, Aug 31st, 2008 @ 10:31am

    Macs are for the weak.

    lol... the day everyone runs on a MAC is the day the whole world is too stupid to run a PC.

    MACs are for those who cant operate a PC, because they arnt educated enough, and it is too complex for them. Macs DO get viruses. The only reason they are so rare is because nobody cares to make them for a machine that the common use dosnt even know how to check their own bank account online.

    People who buy Macs, only buy it for 2 reasons:
    1) They are to stupid to run a PC
    2) The logo

    Plus... NASA dosnt run Windows (are you fucking crazy? How would you like to get a BSOD out in the middle of space?), they run either their own form of a Unix based OS, or a pre-programmed disro of Linux.

     

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  •  
    identicon
    Tanzanite, Oct 14th, 2008 @ 8:59am

    Virus in Space or UK?

    Sounds like they should hook up with the British government - they have managed to lose countless records and passwords to hackers this year! tanzanite

     

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  •  
    identicon
    Tanzanite, Oct 14th, 2008 @ 9:00am

    Virus in Space or UK?

    Sounds like they should hook up with the British government - they have managed to lose countless records and passwords to hackers this year! tanzanite

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]


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