Military: Computer Virus Wasn't Directed At Drones
Updated: Wednesday, 12 Oct 2011, 7:56 PM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 12 Oct 2011, 7:56 PM EDT
LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press
WASHINGTON - The Air Force says the computer virus that hit the unmanned drone program last month was not directed at the military systems, but was common malware used to steal log-ins and passwords used in online gaming. Air Force officials said the virus infected ground systems that are separate from drone flight controls and did not affect operations.
An Air Force Space Command spokeswoman, Col. Kathleen Cook, says the infection was found on a small, portable hard drive used to transfer information between systems at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada.
The Air Force says the virus did not log computer keystrokes, but instead was designed to steal passwords from people who gamble or play games like Mafia Wars online.
Pilots based at Creech fly drones remotely over Iraq and Afghanistan.
Updated: Wednesday, 12 Oct 2011, 7:56 PM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 12 Oct 2011, 7:56 PM EDT
LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press
WASHINGTON - The Air Force says the computer virus that hit the unmanned drone program last month was not directed at the military systems, but was common malware used to steal log-ins and passwords used in online gaming. Air Force officials said the virus infected ground systems that are separate from drone flight controls and did not affect operations.
An Air Force Space Command spokeswoman, Col. Kathleen Cook, says the infection was found on a small, portable hard drive used to transfer information between systems at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada.
The Air Force says the virus did not log computer keystrokes, but instead was designed to steal passwords from people who gamble or play games like Mafia Wars online.
Pilots based at Creech fly drones remotely over Iraq and Afghanistan.
