[sam_paine]

Excerpt: We keep wiping [the virus] off, and it keeps coming back,” says a source familiar with the network infection, one of three that told Danger Room about the virus. “We think it’s benign. But we just don’t know.” Military network security specialists aren’t sure whether the virus and its so-called “keylogger” payload were introduced intentionally or by accident; it may be a common piece of malware that just happened to make its way into these sensitive networks. The specialists don’t know exactly how far the virus has spread.

Ok, let's do an Occam's Razor analysis real quick:

• Virus keeps showing up on the inside of the network.
• Aircraft appears to have landed in controlled flight, if Tehran's pictures and Obama's beggings are real.
• Seems unlikely that the Iranians pulled off something so advanced, even with Chicom/Russkie help.
• Other drone problems have been reported in different geographic locations.

So what if an Iranian (Or Chicom or Russkie) intelligence agent has personally compromised the Video Game UAV command center?

A spy or a traitor "Accidentally" losing control makes as much sense and is easier to believe than any of these other stories.

Maybe it's not a UAV pilot, but a tech or someone loading viruses in order to give access to Chicoms, and the Chicoms think it's hilarious to drop one in Iran where they can discreetly buy it from the Iranians without direct confrontation.

And it explains why everyones' stories don't match.

Iranians are shocked at their good luck and embarrassed that they probably didn't even know it was there.

Whitehouse has to have a ridiculous cover story to keep enemies form knowing we're compromised.

Chicoms or Russkies are just giggling in the background.

[DoughtyOne]

I suspect they are giggling, but I remain unconvinced of who they are giggling at.

For all I know they could be giggling at the folks who said we weren’t going to need manned aircraft any longer.

[DoughtyOne]

BTW: So am I...

[WoofDog123]

“Maybe it’s not a UAV pilot, but a tech or someone loading viruses in order to give access to Chicoms, and the Chicoms think it’s hilarious to drop one in Iran where they can discreetly buy it from the Iranians without direct confrontation.”

This is at least as plausible as any other explanation. I don’t for a second think Iran cooked this up - this is most likely china, or if not, then russia.

[jpsb]

As plausable as anything else I’ve read, but we will never know what happened with certainity. But I would be very surprised it the navigation code did not contain something similar to what I out lined. Very surprised, tricked into thinking it was somewhere it wasn’t and not able to get back home is less believable then your take. If true, the entire software navigation team should be fired ASAP.

[TankerKC]

Virus keeps showing up on the inside of the network.

Which "network" would that be?

[X-spurt]

That scenario sounds the most plausible have heard to date.

Hell, there is likely some mooselimb Tech or Game Pilot who was PC put there intentionally.

20 years ago, I would have 100% suspected that we gave them the thing as some Trojan Horse, but with the indo-kenyan he probably gave them a clean one. Damn libs have some suicidal “level the paying field” mindset in giving the adversary Top Secret Mil stuff, to curtail USA Imperialism.

[Vermont Lt]

I guess I am wondering why it is so unreasonable to think that the Iranians could have expert computer programmers?

This stuff is not like developing composite carbon fiber coatings for a stealth bomber. It’s not like they need to manufacture something.

You need a computer and training.

While the programming is complicated, they DO have rocket scientists.

[TankerKC]

So what if an Iranian (Or Chicom or Russkie) intelligence agent has personally compromised the Video Game UAV command center?

Except that there isn't just "one command center". There are multiple Ground Control Stations. There are different stations for takeoff & land and for in-flight ops. There are different stations for different types of UAVs. There are different stations for different blocks of UAVs. Each station runs software to operate a particular phase of flight for a particular block and type of aircraft.