Wednesday, August 27, 2008
The laptops sent into space by NASA are not equipped with anti virus protection, the BBC reports.
According to the broadcaster, astronauts are provided with computer equipment which does not have anti virus protection installed.
The news comes following the revelation by NASA that a virus-infected laptop has been sent to the International Space Station.
News resource SpaceRef was first to report the story, revealing that the Gammima.AG worm has been detected on a laptop at the space station.
However, it is not believed that any risk is posed to the work done on the facility - with NASA stating that viruses have been detected in equipment sent into space in the past.
While the infected laptop was sent into space in July, the BBC suggests that the Gammima.AG worm was first detected on Earth in early August.
Infection information resource eSecurity Planet notes that Gammima.AG proliferates by copying itself to removable media.
The information provider adds that the main function of the virus appears to be to obtain login details to online games.
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