Computer Virus Hits U.S. Drone Fleet

What very few of these sensationalized stories will tell you, the average reader, is that the "virus" was designed for use on the internet. None of the ports or exploits which could be used by the "virus" are used by/for the intended application or user since the drone fleet operates on a closed and classified network. (i.e., you cannot contact your host controller on a network which is not connected to the Global Information Grid.)

The "virus" was very likely planted through the simple act of moving a flash drive from an unclassified network to a classified one and dumping the "virus" through any one of various means.

Some military brass like to play this up in order to garner more funds for pet projects and such.

If there was a real-world threat to our military strategy I would surely hope some blow-hard three or four star general would keep his hole shut. If he can't then they are no worse than the wikileakers.

I guess with regards to virus affecting computers there's always a way to clean it up, so I agree with cuba_pete, there's nothing to worry about..:)

Welcome to the CR4 community gwynethF.

I note from the article that they say they have removed the virus but it keeps re-infecting so their clean up methods would not seem to be that good. It's a little worrying that this managed to slip past their anti-virus measures. No damage this time but who knows what's next....

Just goes to show that even people WHO SHOULD KNOW BETTER than to use a flash drive they have been using on a personal computer outside of their normal high security work environment which may have a virus are dumb enough to bring one into a in HIGH SECURITY facility and plug it into the system.

Makes you feel a little less like a dumb A%$ when you allow a virus to get into your own computer.