nuclear bombs work with 8" floppy disks

[Ciccioo]

source: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/nuclear-missile-crews-burdened-by-old-phone-system/

 

this journalist went in a nuclear base to see how they're doing, and found out these things about the technology they use

apparently, a lot of technology in that place is extremely old, following the "if it aint broken dont change it" mentality: there are analog phones that are so awful that it's often really hard to hear the person on the other end, and the software that runs those things is stored on 8" floppy disks

 

apparently, they're considered safe

[flibberdipper]

Okay then. I still use 1.44MB floppies a lot though, but that's just my weird ass.

[Jaybird]

makes sense to me. hacker wont even know why they cant hack it. 

[Imabigmac]

Well I guess it's safer as there is less chance of info getting stolen or leaked when developing new prof rams and upgrading systems. And I guess it's kinda using the mail system as form of secret communication so out dated no one tries to steal it to get info or rob someone.

[Rorgash]

MUCH safer, its been tested and in use for decades unlike what we use today, and there is NO way for someone on the outside to get in.

[qwertywarrior]

arnt these proven to be really safe (time tested)

 

using new software will increase risk

also i believe its analog for a reason

[Warcony]

Floppies are time tested, the verdict: they work...well.  I'd imagine going with older systems makes it a lot harder for hackers.

[MzCatieB]

Why arnt they using Storage cubes and brain chips yet  

[blastedryan]

Those things can bend more than any other storage device.

[StingBull]

Don't floppies rot after a while?

[ericlee30]

Okay then. I still use 1.44MB floppies a lot though, but that's just my weird ass.

Yeah but you are old school so it all works out

[flibberdipper]

Yeah but you are old school so it all works out

Aww, thanks bby.

 

My main computer still has a floppy drive, and uses IDE for everything...

[flibberdipper]

Don't floppies rot after a while?

The tape itself does start to degrade after a while. Look at a video tape from the mid 80's and you'll know what I mean.

[Bsmith]

besides the time thingy, it is actually pretty smart, try to steal one of these things form a nuclear base, I am sure it aint as easy to hide as a small USB or dvd. It sound stupid, but at core it is actually pretty smart.

[Plasma]

they have been using this tec for decades so is this news? if so this forum is going to start singing lets do the time warp again

http://youtu.be/vBHONx9vTtI?t=57s

[Gentleman_Sandwich]

Don't really need all that much technology for a big boom now do we?  We just need the location, the route, and a start button correct? Of course I'm over-simplifying, but still.

[Guest]

This is awesome.  Reminds me of the Battlestar Galactica.

[b45op]

Well if its not broken don't fix it, If they were to upgrade to discs or flash drives, yes it would be smaller and might look cooler but it would do the exact same job and would cost a hell of a lot to replace the decommissioned equipment.

 

Also think about how many people you know that still have an 8" floppy drive, I would say not a lot... now think who has a cd drive or a usb slot and the chance for someone to slip the key file this must hold off is a lot higher.