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Some Of The Pentagon's Critical Infrastructure Still Runs Windows 95 And 98 (defenseone.com)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the clinging-to-the-Start-button dept.

SmartAboutThings writes: The Pentagon is set to complete its Windows 10 transition by the end of this year, but nearly 75% of its control system devices still run Windows XP or other older versions, including Windows 95 and 98. A Pentagon official now wants the bug bounty program of the top U.S. defense agency expanded to scan for vulnerabilities in its critical infrastructure.
DefenseOne raises the possibility of "building and electrical systems, HVAC equipment and other critical infrastructure laden with internet-connected sensors," with one military program manager saying "A lot of these systems are still Windows 95 or 98, and that's OK -- if they're not connected to the internet." Windows Report notes that though Microsoft no longer supports Windows XP, "the Defense Department is paying Microsoft to continue providing support for the legacy OS."

4 of 152 comments (clear)

  1. Yeah. Tons of stuff is old by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    You wouldn't beleive the crap that gets implemented. In the last three years I've seen new control systems implemented in windows 2000 pro because that's what the government agency mandated. It's all over the place but fortunately in most cases it's not ever internet connected.

    Posting ac of obvious reasons.

  2. Wow by Patent+Lover · · Score: 4, Funny

    They should really upgrade to Vista.

  3. military grade linux ? by cats-paw · · Score: 5, Interesting

    you really have to wonder

    1 the source would be available so they never have to worry about obsolesence.
    2 in runs on all sorts of hardware so they could maintain very nice consistency across many processor/platforms
    3 the NSA is working on secure linux, and could certainly help to harden military grade linux
    4 to get work done, they could fund open-source efforts. the work would help the military and the country alike.

    probaly makes too much sense. much better to have a closed-source, proprietary system that can never, ever be secure.
    plus it's more expensive !

    --
    Absolute statements are never true
  4. Our heating system is run by Win 95 Big deal by jfdavis668 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I work in a building where the heating system is controlled by a Windows 95 machine. Big deal. It's not network connected, and runs like a champ. It only changes the configuration of the system, it doesn't run the system minute by minute. If it goes down, we can recreate it easily. Worry about business critical infrastructure, not old hardware that works.