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It's more alarming to me that, apparently, critical infrastructure in a nuclear plant is running old versions of Windows.
by rthomas6 11y ago
It's more alarming to me that, apparently, critical infrastructure in a nuclear plant is running old versions of Windows.
- _pmf_ 11y ago> It's more alarming to me that, apparently, critical infrastructure in a nuclear plant is running old versions of Windows Don't worry, the most important parts are running on DOS or OS/2, so we're saved from doom!
- mtgx 11y ago"Nuclear is safe", they said. I'd rather have my local solar power plant infected with viruses or hit by cyberattacks.
- mabbo 11y agoModern nuclear reactor design is such that you cant cause a meltdown without violating the laws of physics.
- jobu 11y agoUnfortunately most nuclear reactors aren't modern.
- germanier 11y agoAs far as I know there isn't even a single one of those designs which was successfully built somewhere yet (as in: Is able to generate more power than it uses).
- DasIch 11y agoThe being able to generate more power than it uses is a problem for nuclear fusion reactors. The problem with modern nuclear reactor designs is that they're just that, designs. Great ideas people in comment sections love to mentally masturbate about. In reality almost all nuclear reactors are decades old. Politics alone ensure nuclear reactors with the exception of maybe fusion (which will be way too late for climate change) will never get off the ground. In the meantime renewables, solar especially, get cheaper and more efficient every day, not designs but actual installations.
- maze-le 11y agoHow does this work? Do you know the reactor-type you are speaking of? I'd like to know more on this...
- sgift 11y agoWiki has a few examples of such systems/designs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_nuclear_safety#Examples_of_passive_safety_in_operation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_nuclear_safety#Example...
- vetinari 11y agoI wouldn't be so sure - you know the joke about fool proof designs and nature inventing bigger fools ;). Few years ago, Westinghouse tried to kick out Rosatom from VVER power plants in Eastern Europe as a supplier of the fuel. They pulled very heavy levers to do that, but in the end, they were still refused due to their pellets not being up to the task and being a security hazard. And yet they still try that in Ukraine...
- owie829 11y agoyou can melt down any reactor. Perhaps you mean it can't create a nuclear explosion? in that you are right.
- beambot 11y agoNot quite. Doom installs just fine on DOS. It's just one of the games I would install...
- froh42 11y agoThere are Windows computers in there. They are not connected to any outside network "to be safe". Therefore they are protected, even protected from updates. Software that runs on them is validated for that specific OS version with a specific state of updates applied. Regulations say you can't just ran any random device (including software) there, that's unsafe. Unfortunately regulations weren't being made with PCs in mind where anybody can plug in an infected USB stick. Or needs to in case he's a service technician. (Yes, those ports are not available for "anybody" who is there, but somebody needs to install software on those machines). There are things I have seen I wish I could unsee to feel safe.
- Grishnakh 11y agoThey shouldn't be using Windows at all. Whoever had that idea should be thrown in jail for attempted mass murder. Keeping Windows off a network doesn't make it safe: Stuxnet proved that. Windows has no business being used in any application that is life or safety critical. Its license even says so. Doing so should be a crime. There are much better OSes out there for this kind of thing: just ask anyone who builds jet aircraft.
- ben_bai 11y agoDon't worry. There are still PDP-11 controlled nuclear power plants out there with custom software built in the 70s. Hope you feel better now!?