Information Security News: Re: Hacker risked astronauts' lives

[Cancer Omega <comega () ATTRITION ORG>]

On Mon, 3 Jul 2000, InfoSec News wrote:

> Forwarded by: The Dodger <dodger () 2600 COM>
>
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_816000/816510.stm
Wrong, wrong, wrong.  Once again, the BBC goes for massive FUD and doesn't
do any fact-checking.  The real story is thus:

        NASA's Inspector General's office found that during the STS-86
mission in September of 1997, the transmission of routine medical
information was slightly delayed due to a computer hacker. However, the
transmission was successfully completed.

        At no time was communication between NASA and the astronauts
compromised. The communication interruption occurred between internal
ground-based computer systems.

        There has never been an interruption of communication service with
the Shuttle due to computer hacker attacks. The command and control
communications links between Mission Control and a Space Shuttle in orbit
are extremely well insulated.

        The 1997 incident is currently under investigation by NASA
Inspector General's office.

.c

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