Report: Computer virus hits military drone program
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By LOLITA C. BALDOR
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) - A computer virus that captures the strokes on a keyboard has infected networks used by pilots who control U.S. Air Force drones flown on the warfront, according to a published report.
Wired magazine reported Friday that the spyware has resisted efforts to remove it from the computers in the cockpits at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada, where pilots remotely fly Predator and Reaper drones in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.
The story said there are no confirmed reports that classified data was stolen and that the virus did not stop pilots from flying any of their missions. Network security specialists are uncertain if the virus was part of a directed attack or accidentally infected the networks, the story said.
The Air Force said in a statement it doesn't discuss threats to its computer networks because it can help hackers refine their tactics.
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