The Predator Drone in Iran

The US reportedly considered a strike to remove the captured predator drone from Iranian hands:
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2011/1207/US-considered-missions-to-destroy-RQ-170-Sentinel-drone-lost-in-Iran
A couple of things come into play:
1. What, they don't have a self-destruct mechanism built into the drone that could be activated by a satellite? I mean they've got to figure in a worst case scenario wherein a drone is lost and recovered by an enemy. It's hard to believe they don't have some kind of contingency if something like this happens.
2.The encrypted software is considered to be hack-proof and useless if recovered by an enemy.
3.The drone is a dummy loaded with computer viruses, faulty data and intell, meant to lead an enemy astray.
4. OOPS, we really screwed up and they got the real McCoy!

1. This occurred to me also. I wonder if the fault that caused us to lose control of the drone somehow rendered a self-destruct impossible. Would it be too much to ask for a time-delayed self-destruct?
2. I doubt anything is truly hack-proof, though I also doubt Iran has the ability to hack this....unless, of course, the on-board computer is running Windows Vista and IE8.
3. That would be as funny as the virus that was targeted at and trashed their centrifuges. On the other hand, maybe it was full of bacon and liquor.
4. Seems very likely. This could be the Gary Powers U2 all over again except we haven't lost a pilot.

I heard today, Iran said they had taken the thing apart and discovered all of our secret technology and would begin building their own fleet of drones. What this means to me is, they took it apart, had their best guys take a look at it, and they still don't have a clue as to how it works.

George

If the Iranians can force a stealth drone down electronically
AND the Serbians can shoot down a stealth fighter.

What can more technically sophisticated adversaries do?
Why did we spend a bazillion dollars on these big ticket items?
Who is being relieved of command in the Air Force?

I think your point about having a self destruct mechanism on board is so obvious that I can't believe that someone in the military hasn't mentioned it. It would be somewhat comforting to hear someone say that they had one on board but that it failed. Instead we are left to out imagination and mine is telling me that we have a bumper crop of boneheaded individuals who have more then risen to their level of incompetence. I am sure that the Russians and Chinese will admire and appreciate the best that American engineering has to offer. Nothing like picking up the tab for the other guy's R&D.