Outdated system vulnerable to NHS-style attack HACK THREAT TO NUCLEAR SUBS
SAS sniper makes 1.5mile Isis kill
Cyber-security experts now fear the boats are vulnerable to a similar attack.
Navy insiders have mockingly dubbed the ageing computer system “Windows for Subs”.
Microsoft discontinued the 16-year-old system in 2014, meaning security updates are no longer available.
And most home computers are now more advanced than those aboard Britain’s nuclear deterrent fleet.
The craft are relatively safe from hackers at sea but when in
port and online RICHARD BURNS they could be at risk. Last June, a non-nuclear test missile which was launched by a Trident submarine veered dangerously off course.
The blunder was never explained but some pointed the AN SAS sniper killed a terrorist from almost 1.5miles away using the world’s most powerful rifle.
The bullet took three seconds to hit its target. It is believed to be one of the most difficult “kills” in the regiment’s long history.
The long-range shot took place almost two weeks ago as part of a counter-sniper operation during the battle for the Iraqi city of Mosul. The SAS soldier, a sergeant who was a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, hit the Iraqi in the throat as he left a burned-out building.
The Daily Star Sunday understands the sniper was using the CheyTac M200 Intervention gun, said to be the most accurate rifle ever made.
It holds the record for the world’s longest shot and can reportedly reach distances of up to 3,000m using a special .408 round. The bolt-action rifle is used by US special forces and it is believed the weapon was on loan to the SAS as finger at outdated software. One expert said the creaking Trident system has now become a joke in the security world and is seen as an accident waiting to happen.
Sebastian Jesson-Ward, inset, who runs the cyber-security specialists Serviceteam IT, said: “It is common knowledge in the PATRICK WILLIAMS part of a battlefield trial. The trooper only fired one shot during a four-hour game of “cat-and-mouse” with his Islamic State foe.
The terrorist, also operating as a cyber-security community that Trident uses the Windows XP system.
“It means they are vulnerable to exactly the same type of ransomware attack aimed at the NHS and other organisations. “This is no joke because national security is being compromised by these outdated systems for which there are no security updates because Microsoft no longer supports its own operating system.
“It is true to say the subs are cyber-resilient when they are out at sea because they are not connected to the internet.
“But in port they are vulnerable and that is when an attack could come.
“The nightmare scenario would be for cyber-criminals to infect the system in port and the bug not be detected until the sub was back out at sea and operational.”
Britain’s Trident programme sniper, was equipped with a Russian Dragunov rifle and had killed and wounded several soldiers. The gunman would open fire, take down his target and wait for up to an hour before shooting again, our source said.
But his reign of terror came to an end when a SAS sniper group was brought into action.
The highly trained team tracked the terrorist as he moved between buildings on the edge of a village on the outskirts of Mosul in northern Iraq. The source said: “It was a classic counter-sniper operation. The Isis gunman was moving all the time to get into the best position to get a kill.
“The SAS team had him in their sights on several occasions but did not have the time to get a shot off. At consists of four Vanguard-class submarines patrolling the world’s oceans. HMS Vanguard, Victorious, Vigilant and Vengeance are four of the deadliest war machines ever built, providing a powerful deterrent against a surprise nuclear attack Each sub is armed with up to eight Trident II D5 nuclear missiles. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon refused to deny the subs run the XP system when asked about the risks posed by the outdated software. He said: “We never comment on the different systems, for reasons of security, that our submarines use. “Our Vanguard submarines are safe and operate in isolation when they are out on patrol and we have complete confidence in our nuclear deterrent.” such a long range there are so many factors which can affect the flight of the bullet. “It was like a game of cat-andmouse and at one point the SAS almost gave up, believing that the terrorist had gone to ground.
“He certainly knew how to use the ground to his advantage and had clearly received military training.
“Just as the light was beginning to fade the gunman moved into what he thought was a safe location and lifted his rifle up into his shoulder before the SAS shot him dead. “The distance was so far that it took almost three seconds for the bullet to hit the target.
“The motto for the SAS might be, Who Dares Wins – but for the snipers it’s always, One Round, One Kill.”