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Off topic question: Has anyone managed to hack into any aircraft or tanks yet? I vaguely recall some US tanks were using Microsoft Windows and also vaguely re

Off topic question: Has anyone managed to hack into any aircraft or tanks yet? I vaguely recall some US tanks were using Microsoft Windows and also vaguely recall that the RU borrowed some US battle tech. Did the RU also borrow some US fighter tech? Not suggesting harming anyone but forcing the landing gear locked deployed and flaps to 100% should be entertaining if feasible? Make tanks dance to a tik-tok video? Tik-tok on every HUD?

na85 5y ago
You want me to hack... the planet?
mactavish88 5y ago
I’d imagine it’d be incredibly unlikely that critical software systems in jets or tanks would be internet-connected. From past experience with military-spec software development, it’s usually highly redundant and isolated. The operating systems are often real-time Linux-based ones (at least the ones I was exposed to). If there’s Windows running there somewhere, it’s unlikely it’s in a critical system.
- LinuxBender 5y ago
  it’s unlikely it’s in a critical system I used to think that as well but I recall a time when a bunch of US tanks were blue-screening and that in effect disabled navigation or something to that effect. Maybe I can find those old articles. But you are probably right. If it were possible someone probably would have done it by now.
- hyperman1 5y ago
  https://www.wired.com/1998/07/sunk-by-windows-nt/ https://www.wired.com/1998/07/sunk-by-windows-nt/
- DoItToMe81 5y ago
  US drones were capable of having their camera remote accessed at one point. The Taliban did it in 2009. Never underestimate the power of human hubris and laziness.
  - g8oz 5y ago
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/dec/17/skygrabber-american-drones-hacked https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/dec/17/skygrabber-ame...
    - DoItToMe81 5y ago
      https://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/12/17/drone.video.hacked/index.html https://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/12/17/drone.video.hacked/ind... - Looks like it happened in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Damn.
mysterydip 5y ago
Military units generally should be self-contained except for the (mostly) proprietary protocols used for sensors and communications. A tank isn't going to have an active directory client or printer sharing installed.
- VoidWhisperer 5y ago
  The thought of a tank having a printer and printer sharing service installed is honestly kind of funny to think about. Thank you for the laugh with all this going on.
jaclaz 5y ago
I remember some UK navy ships that used to run Windows 2000 (still do?): https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/no-our-new-aircraft-carriers-dont-run-on-windows-xp/ https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/no-our-new-aircraft-carriers... but I believe it is completely isolated/air gapped.

na85 5y ago

You want me to hack... the planet?

mactavish88 5y ago

I’d imagine it’d be incredibly unlikely that critical software systems in jets or tanks would be internet-connected. From past experience with military-spec software development, it’s usually highly redundant and isolated. The operating systems are often real-time Linux-based ones (at least the ones I was exposed to). If there’s Windows running there somewhere, it’s unlikely it’s in a critical system.

LinuxBender 5y ago
it’s unlikely it’s in a critical system I used to think that as well but I recall a time when a bunch of US tanks were blue-screening and that in effect disabled navigation or something to that effect. Maybe I can find those old articles. But you are probably right. If it were possible someone probably would have done it by now.
hyperman1 5y ago
https://www.wired.com/1998/07/sunk-by-windows-nt/ https://www.wired.com/1998/07/sunk-by-windows-nt/
DoItToMe81 5y ago
US drones were capable of having their camera remote accessed at one point. The Taliban did it in 2009. Never underestimate the power of human hubris and laziness.
- g8oz 5y ago
  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/dec/17/skygrabber-american-drones-hacked https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/dec/17/skygrabber-ame...
  - DoItToMe81 5y ago
    https://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/12/17/drone.video.hacked/index.html https://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/12/17/drone.video.hacked/ind... - Looks like it happened in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Damn.

mysterydip 5y ago

Military units generally should be self-contained except for the (mostly) proprietary protocols used for sensors and communications. A tank isn't going to have an active directory client or printer sharing installed.

VoidWhisperer 5y ago
The thought of a tank having a printer and printer sharing service installed is honestly kind of funny to think about. Thank you for the laugh with all this going on.

jaclaz 5y ago

I remember some UK navy ships that used to run Windows 2000 (still do?): https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/no-our-new-aircraft-carriers-dont-run-on-windows-xp/ https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/no-our-new-aircraft-carriers... but I believe it is completely isolated/air gapped.