# Nuclear missle codes were set to super-secure "00000000" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 3, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-missle-codes-were-set-to-super-secure-00000000/675403 "2013-12-03T20:53:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-missle-codes-were-set-to-super-secure-00000000/675403/1 "2013-12-03T20:53:19Z")
Wow, I mean, wow! > **[December | 2013 | Ars Technica](https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/12/)** > > Serving the Technologist for more than a decade. IT news, reviews, and analysis. It was deemed more important that soldiers could launch nukes if there was a breakdown in communication than 4 people could launch without permission. brian ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-missle-codes-were-set-to-super-secure-00000000/675403/2 "2013-12-03T20:58:33Z")
Well, did you know that before you read the article? I’d be willing to bet anyone with improper access and ill-will would never have figured it out. Hiding in plain sight and all that. Besides, it’s an easy secret to remember when time is tight and communications are spotty. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2013, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-missle-codes-were-set-to-super-secure-00000000/675403/3 "2013-12-03T21:15:06Z")
Not like you or I would have guessed that. About a year ago I had to demonstrate a scripting tool to my then boss and pulled up a script with my password in it. She gasped and said “THAT is your password? It’s not very secure!” I said “Would you have guessed that?” “No”. “Then it was secure.” ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2013, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-missle-codes-were-set-to-super-secure-00000000/675403/4 "2013-12-03T21:21:46Z")
Well, after you entered the code, you had to add the spoken parameter “Peekaboo.” (Would you have guessed?) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-missle-codes-were-set-to-super-secure-00000000/675403/5 "2013-12-03T21:24:22Z")
00000000? That’s amazing! I’ve got the same combination on my luggage! ---
**Author:** ![twotif](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@twotif](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twotif)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-missle-codes-were-set-to-super-secure-00000000/675403/6 "2013-12-03T21:24:38Z")
Have any been shot off because of that yet? Perhaps they’re pretty secure no matter what the launch codes are. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2013, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-missle-codes-were-set-to-super-secure-00000000/675403/7 "2013-12-03T21:30:43Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > 00000000? That’s amazing! I’ve got the same combination on my luggage! Shows what you know! MY luggage is as safe as houses because nobody could ever crack my code: 12345. /smug ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-missle-codes-were-set-to-super-secure-00000000/675403/8 "2013-12-03T21:31:02Z")
Well at least no one died from that. Not exactly the same thing, but some GPS guided bombs allow you to enter GPS coordinates using your current location as a starting point. After changing the battery - it defaults again to your current location. As you can probably guess - someone entered a location - and then changed the battery - launched it - killing three friendlies and injuring 20. > **[Joint Direct Attack Munition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Direct_Attack_Munition)** > > The Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) is a guidance kit that converts unguided bombs, or "dumb bombs", into all-weather precision-guided munitions. JDAM-equipped bombs are guided by an integrated inertial guidance system coupled to a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, giving them a published range of up to 15 nautical miles (28 km). JDAM-equipped bombs range from 500 to 2,000 pounds (230 to 910 kg). The JDAM's guidance system was jointly developed by the United States Air Force and Un Th... ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2013, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-missle-codes-were-set-to-super-secure-00000000/675403/9 "2013-12-03T21:37:09Z")
on rereading - I think it is actually an external device a soldier was using to determine the GPS location - and not the bomb itself. My bad. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-missle-codes-were-set-to-super-secure-00000000/675403/10 "2013-12-04T21:47:30Z")
Since I set my password to zero zeroes, even I can’t get in! ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-missle-codes-were-set-to-super-secure-00000000/675403/11 "2013-12-04T23:35:17Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > 00000000? That’s amazing! I’ve got the same combination on my luggage! So _you’re one of those_ with the mythical suitcase nuke! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-missle-codes-were-set-to-super-secure-00000000/675403/12 "2013-12-05T00:15:25Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > 00000000? That’s amazing! I’ve got the same combination on my luggage! When I saw this thread I had just a glimmer of hope I’d be able to make this joke, but no. Anyway the more I read stories like this - and there’s a whole book about them called Command and Control, which I haven’t gotten around to reading - the more I think the main reason humanity survived the Cold War is plain old dumb-ass luck. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-missle-codes-were-set-to-super-secure-00000000/675403/13 "2013-12-05T00:51:27Z")
> [@DataX](#): > > Well at least no one died from that. Not exactly the same thing, but some GPS guided bombs allow you to enter GPS coordinates using your current location as a starting point. After changing the battery - it defaults again to your current location. As you can probably guess - someone entered a location - and then changed the battery - launched it - killing three friendlies and injuring 20. > > [Joint Direct Attack Munition - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Direct_Attack_Munition) I’d heard about the nuclear missile codes before but not this incident, wow, what an unfortunate way to go. > [@Marley23](#): > > When I saw this thread I had just a glimmer of hope I’d be able to make this joke, but no. Anyway the more I read stories like this - and there’s a whole book about them called Command and Control, which I haven’t gotten around to reading - the more I think the main reason humanity survived the Cold War is plain old dumb-ass luck. > **[Command and Control: Amazon.co.uk: Schlosser, Eric: 9781846141485: Books](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Command-Control-Eric-Schlosser/dp/1846141486)** > > Buy Command and Control by Schlosser, Eric (ISBN: 9781846141485) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. I take it thats the book? Its still a bit expensive but as soon as it comes down in price into my Cold War book collection it goes. I know what you mean re your last line, makes you wonder if the ‘multiple-worlds’ theory of reality is right and our world is one of the few that didn’t nuke itself into a glowing radioactive cinder at some point. Just finished reading ‘Swan Song’ by Robert McCammon which depicts a full scale exchange in the late 1980’s, I question the authors technical accuracy _(he makes the mistake of counting from 1 to 5 in the Defcon alert system and not the other way around for example)_ but he can really craft an image. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-missle-codes-were-set-to-super-secure-00000000/675403/14 "2013-12-05T01:09:01Z")
If Liquid Snake had known this, it would’ve ruined pretty much the entire second disc of Metal Gear Solid 1. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-missle-codes-were-set-to-super-secure-00000000/675403/15 "2013-12-05T01:45:26Z")
well, lets see - according to all the documentary evidence I’ve seen - password/code crackers always start with all 1s and progress from there - with a 9 digit code, it should take them a few years before it finally scrolls to all zeros at the end. Generally, there will be 5 seconds left on the clock when this does happen. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-missle-codes-were-set-to-super-secure-00000000/675403/16 "2013-12-05T02:20:20Z")
Heck, what do you do when someone accidentally sets something down on the panel, and it’s leaning on the 0 key? I know I’ve accidentally typed things that way. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-missle-codes-were-set-to-super-secure-00000000/675403/17 "2013-12-05T02:28:28Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Heck, what do you do when someone accidentally sets something down on the panel, and it’s leaning on the 0 key? I know I’ve accidentally typed things that way. I think they must have installed RikerProtection 1.0 for that. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-missle-codes-were-set-to-super-secure-00000000/675403/18 "2013-12-05T12:41:34Z")
Simmer down people. The article got it wrong. It’s not a string of zeros but a combination of zeros and the letter “O”. Please feel secure. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-missle-codes-were-set-to-super-secure-00000000/675403/19 "2013-12-05T13:26:57Z")
> [@simster](#): > > well, lets see - according to all the documentary evidence I’ve seen - password/code crackers always start with all 1s and progress from there - with a 9 digit code, it should take them a few years before it finally scrolls to all zeros at the end. > > Generally, there will be 5 seconds left on the clock when this does happen. I thought it was always 7. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-missle-codes-were-set-to-super-secure-00000000/675403/20 "2013-12-05T14:03:56Z")
> [@Disposable Hero](#): > > [Command and Control: Amazon.co.uk: Schlosser, Eric: 9781846141485: Books](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Command-Control-Eric-Schlosser/dp/1846141486/ref=la_B001IGNUIY_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386204436&sr=1-1) > > I take it thats the book? Its still a bit expensive but as soon as it comes down in price into my Cold War book collection it goes. Yes. I haven’t read it, but I read a long review and discussion of some of the issues in a New Yorker a month or two ago. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-missle-codes-were-set-to-super-secure-00000000/675403.md?page=2)