NASA has suggested that its systems are "vulnerable" to attacks from hackers, according to Release News.
It is thought that the inspector general of the organisation, Paul Martin, passed comment regarding the organisation's systems - citing the "crippling" and "catastrophic" effects a security breach would have.
Some six servers within the organisation's IT infrastructure were at risk, Martin said, as they demonstrated "high-risk vulnerabilities."
The company expert stated: "We found that computer servers on NASA's agency-wide mission network had high-risk vulnerabilities that were exploitable from the internet."
"Specifically, six computer servers associated with IT assets that control spacecraft and contain critical data had vulnerabilities that would allow a remote hacker to take control of or render them unavailable."
The organisation could consider enlisting the services of an IT system management specialist, who would be able to advise NASA on how they can protect their systems and manage them effectively. The specialist could also advise companies on how to encrypt their systems properly, in order to avoid attacks.
This was a key factor in Martin's allegations, as he argued that the vulnerability of encrypted passwords and keys, as well as private account information of users left the systems wide-open to hackers.
It is hoped the organisation will take his claims seriously, as they may experience a repeat of the May 2009 incident; wherein hackers made some 3,000 unauthorised IP connections through NASA's systems, The Daily Mail reported.
