Problems with NASA's Network

Technology can be a good thing if it is used properly. NASA has been attacked in the past because hackers have been able to find holes in the network and worm their way into the system. In recent news the hackers have returned. Not only can people who don’t belong breach the system, but they can also harm people on missions by controlling the space station. “Six servers containing critical data and used for controlling spacecraft were found to have holes that would allow a remote attacker to take control over them or render them inaccessible. Once inside the network, an attacker could exploit other weaknesses auditors identified, which could severely degrade or cripple NASA's operations.” They can also spread information that is not intended to be spread which could allow other countries or harmful people to gain access to NASA’s documents. "Until NASA addresses these critical deficiencies and improves its IT security practices, the Agency is vulnerable to computer incidents that could have a severe to catastrophic effect on Agency assets, operations, and personnel," said the Inspector General's report. If people are able to get into a strong system like NASA, it raises questions of just how powerful hackers are out there in cyberspace. Technology tends to get a bad reputation due to the fact that some people use it for evil instead of good.

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