this post was submitted on 23 Jul 2025
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[–] barrbaric@hexbear.net 48 points 3 days ago (2 children)

All the control systems that actually launch the nukes are air-gapped and cannot be hacked by typical methods. They only stopped using floppy disks in 2019. This is just saying that some DoE offices got hacked, which really means nothing.

You'd need something like a stuxnet-level worm, and even then, I can guarantee you that those consoles are secure enough that nobody is going to plug a random USB stick they found in a parking lot into them. Further, nobody would reveal that news, either China or the US, because you wouldn't tell your enemy that either you broke their MAD abilities or that they broke your MAD abilities.

[–] Xavienth@lemmygrad.ml 15 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Doesn't the UK have submarines that literally are supposed to fire nukes if they can't contact home base when they surface (which can be months between surfacing)?

I wonder if the US has the same. If so, yeah you can't kneecap that with hackers.

[–] Horse@lemmygrad.ml 6 points 2 days ago

Doesn’t the UK have submarines that literally are supposed to fire nukes if they can’t contact home base when they surface (which can be months between surfacing)?

when a new prime minister comes in, they write a letter that contains their orders for if this happens, there were(?) three options:

  • Launch your nukes
  • Sail to the nearest allied nation and place yourself at their disposal (usa or australia)
  • Use your own discretion ("you're on your own lmao")

the letter is then sealed and placed in the sub commanders safe, to be opened only when it happens

[–] barrbaric@hexbear.net 14 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Yep, they're part of the nuclear triad, which consists of land-based ICBMs, submarine-based missiles, and aircraft carrying nuclear bombs.

[–] Maeve@lemmygrad.ml 11 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It seems a while back I read something about POC about exploitation of airgapped systems without physical access, but can't remember how.

[–] barrbaric@hexbear.net 18 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I feel like it's certainly possible, you do occasionally hear stories of outlandish hacks. That said, I'd say it's not very likely, and for it to actually matter they'd have to simultaneously hit not only every US missile launch site, but also every nuclear sub and bomber.

[–] Maeve@lemmygrad.ml 9 points 3 days ago

I just searched and I think this is what I recall https://arxiv.org/pdf/2110.00104. However, I skimmed through a post of 14 ways!