Posted on 04/27/2014 1:30:29 PM PDT by dennisw
America's feared nuclear missile facilities are still controlled by computers from the 1960s and floppy disks
60 Minutes received a tour of the F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, the storage facility of 450 nuclear warheads and a Minuteman III missile The facility was built in the 1960s to withstand a nuclear attack and alot of its equipment dates back to that time The floppy disks that contain the missile launch codes are safe and effective because it allows center to stay disconnected from the internet and prevent cyber terrorism, the military claims Tour comes in the wake of a major cheating scandal that has implicated 91 Air Force nuclear missile officers, nine of which were fired
The isolated U.S. military silo that contains one of deadliest nuclear arsenals in the world - some 450 warheads that are each 20 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima - is being controlled by computers dating back to 1960s and a launch system that relies on floppy disks.
But security officials maintain their methods are not only functional but hack-free, with the underground control room in Wyoming not connected to the internet, stopping any cyber terrorists gaining control over the weapons.
60 Minutes gained access to the F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne and will broadcast its full report from the facility tonight.
CBS Correspondent Lesley Stahl said she believed the unprecedented invitation to take a look inside was part of a move by the military to show the public their system was safe in the wake of a widespread cheating scandal among their ranks.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
No, it’s obviously 4-3-2-1-0
http://gizmodo.com/for-20-years-the-nuclear-launch-code-at-us-http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rtOXMZlMTkg/RZWVjP3f49I/AAAAAAAAADs/YpHlSwXpiUg/s400/drinking_bird.jpgminuteman-si-1473483587
I left out some zeros, there should be eight.
The hardware is mostly very modern. A least third generation 360s -- maybe even 370s :)
I didn't see where it said that they literally are using floppy disk. Just the data originally on floppies I figure.
"Shall. we. play. a. game?"
“We’ll meet again....don’t know where....don’t know when........”
Leslie Stahl is trying out for the part of Jane Curtin on SNL
Ask the Iranians what happens if your most sensitive computer systems are networked.
If they do the full tour, you will get to see the pale green walls, the giant shock absorbers that the site rests on and the cool way things were done back then.
I miss those days working at the LCF’s at Ellsworth.
I’m more worried about them being controlled by 1960’s hippies.
That may be a good thing. How many hackers still know how to attack a 1960’s puter.
Being hack-free is a major advantage imo.
Like our pothead president member of The Choom Gang
I came into computers in 1997 which I am sure is later than you. I always had problems with them and with 100mb zip disks. There was always problems reading them and having them fail completely. My first flash drive was 64mb and failed. They were dodgy too but no problems w flash drives now
The ChiComs and the Russians will lobby someone here (Maybe Odinga himself, depending on his flexibility) to order an update to the military’s software and get connected to the internet. Problem solved.
Kings Quest, correct?
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