America’s remote controlled kill machines, the Predator and Reaper drones which fly hunt missions over Pakistan, Afghanistan and Yemen, have been hit by a computer virus and network specialist can’t seem to get rid of it.
The virus has infected Creech Air Force base in Nevada from where the robotic machines fly globally, Los Angeles Times reported. But, media report said so far the virus hasn’t hindered global missions of the drones and there’s been no leak of classified information.
The infection, first reported by Wired magazine two weeks back is allegedly logging pilots’ every keystroke as they carry out the missions.
The virus has remained on the drones’ computer system despite multiple efforts to remove it. “We keep wiping it off, and it keeps coming back... We think it’s benign,” Wired magazine reported.
“Military network security specialists aren’t sure whether the virus and its so-called ‘keylogger’ payload were introduced intentionally or by accident; it may be a common piece of malware that just happened to make its way into these sensitive networks,” the magazine said.
The specialists don’t know exactly how far the virus has spread. Something is going on, but it has not had any impact on the missions overseas.