U.S. drone-cockpit controls reportedly have virus

A stubborn virus has infected the virtual cockpits of American Predator and Reaper drones that are flown remotely over Afghanistan and other war zones, according to a report by Wired writer Noah Shachtman published on Ars Technica.

The report says the virus was first detected two weeks ago in the drone control-center computers but has not prevented drone flights that are piloted remotely from Creech Air Force Base in Nevada.

The virus has resisted efforts to clean it out of the systems, the report says, quoting Creech network security specialists. The infection underscores the apparent vulnerability of what has become the U.S. military’s most important weapons system, the report says.

Photos: A U.S. Predator unmanned drone armed with a missile stands on the tarmac of Kandahar military airport in Afghanistan. (June 13, 2010). AP

Source: Arstechnica