Stuxnet Worm Takes Cyber- Warfare Up A Level

[Jeffersons Ghost]

Stuxnet Takes It Up A Level
October 3, 2010: Cyber War is not new. There have been skirmishes between nation states; Russia used cyber weapons against Estonian in 2007 and Georgia in 2008. However, the appearance of the Stuxnet Worm is an escalation on a level with the introduction of intercontinental ballistic missiles. It has been a wakeup call to the world.

Computer viruses, worms and trojans have been around for years. They have mainly attached PCs or the servers that run businesses. They have deleted important data, slowed systems down and stopped e-businesses from making money, but they have not threatened people’s lives or environmental catastrophe.

The Stuxnet worm is completely different. It is the first piece of malware (malicious software) to damage the computer systems which control industrial plants. At the heart of modern industry are the so called SCADA systems which control systems such as motors, sensors, alarms, pumps, valves and other essential equipment. The Stuxnet worm allows the attacker to take remotely control of these systems. Options for the Stuxnet controller could include turning off safety systems in a nuclear reactor, opening or shutting a dam’s overflow sluices, opening oil pipelines to contaminate sea or land.

The only option for a manager running a plant infected by the worm would be to shut down operations until the malware had been 100% removed. No-one could rationally keep a site running if reliance could not be placed on what computer sensors were reporting and in event of a problem, systems may not be able to be shut down.

[wtmusic]

1. How would one gain access to critical systems like this

unless it was a case of sabotage (inside job)?

Have a link?

[Jeffersons Ghost]

2. here's a link but it has a pop-up ad

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htiw/articles/20101003.aspx

[wtmusic]

3. Thanks.

Not surprised that it targets Microsoft software, and IMO there's a significant possibility it was developed by CIA black ops.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

4. I was thinking it was NSA geeks when it hit Iran

[wtmusic]

5. That would make more sense. nt

[Jeffersons Ghost]

8. It was an inside job and Iran has arrested some suspects

[polly7]

6. This is horrible.

Flooding, oil contamination .... super scary to imagine. Also, if it hit the NRU at Chalk River or one of the other suppliers, it could be disastrous in stopping medical radioisotopes reaching much of the world.

[MattBaggins]

7. Just got to love all the folks right here on DU that applauded this.

[Canuckistanian]

9. Link, please n/t