There's Life In Space (Sort of)

I'm reading the news and it's like watching Mythbusters. On one hand, NASA managed to find "life" in space. On the other hand, my myth of NASA's security is busted. For the sake of discussion, it does not matter how the virus got there and whether or not it is dangerous or just annoying. The simple fact is that there are no more sanctuaries.

I hate to sound like I'm FUD-ing - and I hope that no one will Defudder me - however, there are some questions that should be asked.

I speculate that during the long shifts and lonely nights at NASA someone brought some kind of a gaming worm which then infected one (or more) of the systems at the International Space Station via a thumb drive or another USB connected device. I was reading the final report on the ISS independent safety task force. Interesting reading. I did not notice anything regarding the security of the systems on the space station, yet, the short section 4.1.8 discusses Security compromises of the ground system. See my highlighting in bold

Compromise of an information technology (IT) system is a threat to any computing network, and a deliberate attack using the ground command system to issue commands to the ISS systems could have catastrophic results. While it is inappropriate to discuss specific security measures to prevent this from occurring, the members heard discussion on the steps taken by the ISS Program and the JSC's Mission Operations Directorate.
The Station's command security directives come from NASA Policy Directive [NPD] 2810.1C, NASA Information Security Policy, which establishes the overall NASA agency security policy. NASA Policy Regulation [NPR] 2810.1A, NASA Procedures and Requirements for Security of Information Technology, provides further requirements among which is the requirement that only National Security Agency (NSA)-approved and -endorsed encryption products and/or techniques shall be used for protecting all telemetry and telecommunications to crewed aerospace vehicles. Command security is audited by the NSA on a periodic basis. The IPs have similar IT security measures in place.

I do not have access to the documents in NASA's library so I was unable to verify what NPD and NPR instructs regarding USB devices in NASA's networks.

BTW, this is NOT the FIRST time that worms were identified on the ISS.

"The footage comes from space shuttle Atlantis, which was flying around the ISS on June 19th after undocking. Cameras on the shuttle recorded not only the behemoth space station, but also a strange wriggling object moving in front of the station's solar panels and radiators. What is it?"