NASA computer security at risk, according to inspector general’s report

MSNBC : NASA’s inspector general has issued a report saying that the agency-wide mission computer network was vulnerable to potentially “catastrophic” cyberattacks, writes Paul Wagenseil for MSNBC. “Six computer servers associated with IT [information technology] assets that control spacecraft and contain critical data had vulnerabilities that would allow a remote attacker to take control of or render them unavailable,” according to the audit report released yesterday by Inspector General Paul K. Martin. It’s long been known that security on NASA networks is weak, and recommendations from two earlier audit reports have yet to be acted on. In response to the latest report, NASA’s management team has promised to implement a strategy for an agency-wide network risk assessment by the end of August and work up a comprehensive approach for identifying and addressing risks by the end of September.