A computer ‘Keylogger’ spyware (virus) has infected the cockpits of America’s Predator and Reaper drones, logging every keystroke pilots were doing while remotely flying their missions over Afghanistan and other warzones, Wired danger Room reports.
The virus was first detected nearly two weeks ago by the Creech Air Force base security; however, the virus resisted multiple efforts to remove it from Creech’s computers, network security specialists say. The virus has not prevented pilots at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada from flying their missions overseas. While the ground control systems (GCS) are maintained separated from other networks to prevent such attacks, security experts suspect the virus has penetrated the system through removable hard drives used to load map updates and transport mission videos from one computer to another.
The virus is believed to have spread through these removable drives. Drone units at other Air Force bases worldwide have now been ordered to stop their use. A senior Air Force source with knowledge of the drone program and familiar with the virus that was caught in recent weeks told FoxNews.com that Wired’s story was “blown out of proportion” and “vastly overwritten.” However, as the Iranians combating the Stuxnet at Natanz enrichment plant could tell, you should never underestimate your opponent when he is inside your system (read how Stuxnet Variants could open a Pandora box in jeopardizing infrastructure and industrial systems).
