Hackers had 'full functional control' of Nasa computers

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17231695

by ed209 • 14 years ago

51 17 14 years ago

bbc.co.uk

Porter_423• 14 years ago

The problem about the fact is that,if the hacker can break the NASA computer security so easily then what would happen if this hacked information goes to terrorists?I can't believe the top class US authority like NASA can blow their head under the Hackers.

driverdan2• 14 years ago

What terrorists? If there were terrorists skilled enough to hack into "key NASA computers" they'd be skilled enough to successfully blow things up in the US. Which isn't happening.

This isn't the 90's anymore, NASA computers aren't a revolving door anymore.

rbanffy2• 14 years ago

> they'd be skilled enough to successfully blow things up in the US. Which isn't happening.

I really agree with you on that, but I am a little bit concerned about ignoring the possibility that there may be something going on we just haven't seen yet.

malkia2• 14 years ago

I have a problem that the word "hacker" was used in this context. Cracker (as coined by RMS), or criminal is more appropriate.

I've just read Sam William's RMS biography, and the word hack has been used since the 1950s for all things not done in harmful way.

And after all this is hacker news...

malkia2• 14 years ago

Downvoted for what? WTF?

dillona2• 14 years ago

You are repeating a discussion that has happened literally thousands of times over the last thirty years.

dmoney2• 14 years ago

I'd like to know what "key NASA computers" means. This could mean a computer that can send commands to sattelites and rockets, or it could just mean a central e-mail or file server used by office workers.

spoiledtechie• 14 years ago

From what I understand, it was a hackers playground to hack nasa computers back in the day (90s). It used to be the easiest to get into and some of the biggest systems to play around in.

Its no surprise that since it was so easy in the past, its still easy today.

driverdan2• 14 years ago

Why are foreign subnets even allowed to access JPL systems? Sure it's not going to prevent someone from using a compromised system on a non-banned subnet as a proxy but it seems like a simple step that would make it a little harder.

garg• 14 years ago

They may be collaborating with the European, Russian, Japanese space agencies. They have researchers traveling the world at any given time.

That said they certainly could restrict more access. It's a big challenge because NASA is ultimately a research facility where freedoms of researchers have to be carefully balanced with security and access control. Each department and project has its own needs so it has a very varied attack surface. It's not as simple as simply putting a giant international firewall up.

And they do have strict restrictions in place but it takes a single project, or sysadmin to drop the ball causing this sort of embarrassing situation. Clearly it needs to be even more effective.

johansch• 14 years ago

That kind of limitation is pretty pointless, since it would not stop a determined attacker.

Hackers had 'full functional control' of Nasa computers

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