Recently launched and not yet operational, the HMS Queen Elizabeth's computers are running Windows XP.
The ship's officers defend this, claiming that the ship is secure, but the phrasing of their comments suggests that they really don't have a clue:
"It's not the system itself, of course, that's vulnerable, it's the security that surrounds it.
So the security is vulnerable?
"I want to reassure you about Queen Elizabeth, the security around its computer system is properly protected and we don't have any vulnerability on that particular score."
Apparently, where you buy your computers makes Windows XP more secure:
"The ship is well designed and there has been a very, very stringent procurement train that has ensured we are less susceptible to cyber than most."
He added: "We are a very sanitised procurement train. I would say, compared to the NHS buying computers off the shelf, we are probably better than that. If you think more Nasa and less NHS you are probably in the right place."
Didn't they learn from recent events how even air-gapped computers can be compromised?
Also covered at The Register, The Times, and The Guardian.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday June 28 2017, @04:57PM
It should simply be illegal for the government to use proprietary software. It's extremely bad for the government to be dependent upon a particular entity to develop a piece of software that they rely on; they should be able to hire anyone to develop it, and only free software gives them that option. Governments should also encourage education and self-reliance, and clearly depending on the goodwill of proprietary slavers does neither of those things.