This gets into the argument over the NIPR and SIPR Nets. Doesn’t matter they can’t get to the SIPR. Really? Plus, when about 80% of communications take place on the NIPR, I not sure which one is more valuable.

–Most certainly. If the virus or malware or whatever entity is propgated from the thumb drive in this case to the computers (in this case the laptop) were devised to soley replicate until complete Ddos’ing the box then that will surely affect some systems onboard the spacecraft. I mean in general, that is the whole point in the system check to make sure it is clear. Some astronub had to have plopped his Wow thumbdrive on it for sure, probably running a game off the thumb, thus bringin’ in the malware.

Now had that laptop controlled a critical system, like say, oh life support and/or navigation/thrusters that sorta thing then they could have died, been set off course or burned up in the atmosphere when a retro rocket kicked on sporatically. The “space” is the limited so to speak in this case.

Now take that one step further, and you “network” that infected computer to the rest of your stations integrated systems and even if only one had been infected now you’ve got hundreds(?) of infections spread across the entire useless station, all due to 1 little thumbdrive bug. Jumper had the right mind set when he said I woulda been impressed w/ a satty cross site hack.

Too bad for TDV. It would have been a lot more interesting if Chinese hackers had hacked some satellite link and compromised the computer.