The Predator and Reaper drone controls at Creech AFB.

If you thought computer viruses were only something to worry about on your standard desktop computer, think again.  Everyone has trouble with computer viruses these days.  From the equipment at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran to subcutaneous microchips inserted into human beings, anything can be befouled by a computer virus.  Just ask the US Air Force.  The computer systems that control Predator and Reaper unmanned aircraft are infected with a keylogger, which tracks every command and code entered by the UAV’s pilots.

The drone fleet, which is manufactured by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, is based out of Creech Air Force Base in Nevada.  That’s where the USAF’s antivirus systems are hard at work removing a particularly stubborn infection.  This is three or four times now, and the USAF can’t keep it from getting back onto their systems.  It’s still active somewhere on their network, so they may have to take everything offline before they can repair the systems for good.

“The planes were never in any jeopardy of ‘going stupid’,” an unnamed USAF source told Wired.   He added that the virus “is not affecting operations in any way … it showed up on a Microsoft-based Windows system.  We have a closed-loop system and heavily protected cockpits — the planes were never in jeopardy.”

Apparently the backbone of the US’s robot killing fleet is powered by Windows.  Who knew?  Guess it’s time to update your antivirus protection.

Tags: US drones infected with computer virus, computer virus, computer security, keylogger infects US unmanned aircraft, combat drones, unmanned aircraft, Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, Predator drones, Reaper drones, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, computer virus infects Predator and Reaper drones, defense, military technology, US military

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