Second computer worm 'hits Iran'

[maddezmom]

Source: AFP

TEHRAN — Iran has been hit with new malicious software as part of cyber attacks against the country, a military officer told Mehr news agency on Monday without specifying the target.

"Certain characteristics about the 'Stars' virus have been identified, including that it is compatible with the (targeted) system," Gholam Reza Jalali, commander of the Iranian civil defence organisation, told the agency.

"In the initial stage, the damage is low and it is likely to be mistaken for governmental executable files," Jalali said, adding that Iranian experts were still investigating the full scope of the malware's abilities.

He did not say what kind of equipment the virus was targeting or when and how it had been spotted.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gYXeI4fx6g5vFQS-jkGIdzzf4x4Q?docId=CNG.52b1c572200691378e42eaf823edf1d3.4e1

[originalpckelly]

1. Cyberwarfare beotches...

It's better than bombing the shit of out them.

[AtheistCrusader]

7. Until someone considers it an act of war, and in retaliation actually bombs the shit out of someone.

This is not safe territory.

[Kurska]

8. Plausible deniability

That is why you also don't change their screen saver to floating Israeli flags.

[drm604]

2. I'm thinking that it was probably their nuclear program again.

That seems the most likely target.

[Ian David]

3. We know it doesn't come from Israel, because the virus keeps attacking on Saturdays. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

4. Iran 'uncovers Stars espionage virus'

25 April 2011 Last updated at 11:23 ET
Iran 'uncovers Stars espionage virus'

Officials in Iran say they have found a computer virus designed to target the country's government institutions.

The malicious software - dubbed Stars - was capable of inflicting minor damage, according to the head of Iran's civil defence organisation.

If the reports are accurate, it would be the second major attack in a year.

The recently discovered Stuxnet worm is thought to have been created to take control of equipment used in Iran's nuclear programme.

More:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13188351

[jimlup]

5. My strong suspicion is that US or Israeli intelligence is behind this...

one problem with the idea that I perceive is that the virus may be trapped and decoded by Iranian intelligence giving them the same kind of capability. Just like the atomic secret - the genie is out of the bottle.

[Kurska]

6. These sort of things have to be custom built for the system they are targeting.

So unless the Iranians reverse engineer the virus and then start offering us "a great deal on slightly used equipment!" we'll be fine.

[xchrom]

9. Recommend

[Pterodactyl]

10. Good!