Computer virus goes into orbit

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) — NASA confirmed on Wednesday that a computer virus sneaked aboard the International Space Station only to be tossed into quarantine on July 25 by security software.

A "worm type" virus was found on laptop computers that astronauts use to send and receive email from the station by relaying messages through a mission control center in Texas, according to NASA spokesman Kelly Humphries.

The virus is reported to be malicious software that logs keystrokes in order to steal passwords or other sensitive data by sending the information to hackers via the Internet.

The laptop computers are not linked to any of the space station's control systems or the Internet.

"The bottom line is it is a nuisance for us," Humphries told AFP. "The crew...