-
add to favourites
Anti-virus security in outer space
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
How we can protect our computers from viruses here on planet Earth is pretty clear. If you find yourself in a difficult situation, you can always hire a professional who will configure your software, check your system, delete harmful files, or optimise certain routines if necessary. But what if a space station needs to protect its computers from viruses and Trojans? Getting an IT professional up there is complicated, to say the least.
Internet access is available on the ISS. Astronauts, cosmonauts, and guests can navigate the Web. They have accounts on social media sites and blogs.
Because an infection occurring in space can have devastating consequences, the usual security methods—an anti-virus, a firewall, and restricting user permissions—aren't enough. If only because hosts located that far away can't receive updates regularly. Furthermore, there is also the risk that a device could be bricked during an update session, and there would be no replacement.
Malware is known to penetrate computers via removable media, the Internet, email, or vulnerabilities. Infection via removable media or new equipment is possible but unlikely. Cosmonauts are well disciplined, and we can hope that they don't bring flash drives of dubious origin with them into space.
Uploading something on Earth and double-checking it is easier than transferring it over a communication channel. And naturally, anything connected with malware is strictly controlled so that situations involving a virus getting into a network and infesting everything never happen. But the networks that facilitate control over the workstations aren't connected. They operate independently, and no physical connectivity exists between them.
That's why malware can sneak into our local networks, but the control mechanisms will remain unaffected.
Infection over the Internet. Whenever a user loads a webpage, they are essentially requesting access to a certain file containing instructions. Once the file is acquired, the browser uses its engine and settings to process the instructions and download additional files, converts the data into human-readable form, downloads ads, etc. The browser also executes all sorts of scripts. In theory, nothing dangerous is going on here—system information is gathered to display web content properly. But whenever files are uploaded and scripts are executed, there is also room for an attack.
When a space station resident loads a page, they are in fact looking at an image that was created on a remote desktop in Houston. This provides high security—even if something unexpected happens while a user surfs the Web, any infection will remain on Earth.
In other words, only a screenshot of the visited page is transmitted into orbit. This does increase traffic, but it also increases security.
And, of course, something along the lines of parental control exists, too.
As a matter of fact, the Internet cannot be accessed from the ISS; only the NASA network can be accessed.
And thus astronauts are subject to the security policy that is in effect for that network. A special security division determines which sites are not work-related and are thus out of bounds. According to Cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov, NASA uses powerful anti-virus software.
Different people visit different sites. While in space, Scott Kelly visited the same sites he usually visits on Earth. He used Twitter, Instagram, checked his bank accounts, and sometimes watched videos.
Trojans can also get into a system via email. Here screenshots won't work, which is why special routines are applied.
Emails are sent to a NASA email address. They pass through a firewall and powerful anti-virus software scans messages for malware.
The Anti-virus Times recommends
The usual security solutions aren't the only means of protection available. If necessary, security can be increased manifold. But absolute security can't be achieved since people are prone to make mistakes, and even in space an anti-virus is needed; and for the time being, when travelling not too far into orbit, ordinary security measures are sufficient. But who can tell what security measures will be necessary during space travel to Mars or Venus when updates will take place far less frequently while the risk of infection will remain the same?
![[Twitter]](http://st.drweb.com/static/new-www/social/no_radius/twitter.png "Shared 0 times")
Tell us what you think
To leave a comment, you need to log in under your Doctor Web site account. If you don't have an account yet, you can create one.
Comments
Неуёмный Обыватель
05:09:39 2018-07-23
vasvet
07:27:48 2018-06-30