Iran's nuclear agency trying to stop computer worm

Iran's nuclear agency trying to stop computer worm
Stuxnet worm can take over systems that control industrial plants

By NASSER KARIMI


updated 9/25/2010 1:50:43 PM ET

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's nuclear agency is trying to combat a complex computer worm that has affected industrial sites throughout the country and is capable of taking over power plants, Iranian media reports said.

Experts from the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran met this week to discuss how to remove the malicious computer code, or worm, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported Friday.

The computer worm, dubbed Stuxnet, can take over systems that control the inner workings of industrial plants. Experts in Germany discovered the worm in July, and it has since shown up in a number of attacks — primarily in Iran, Indonesia, India and the U.S.

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Wouldn't a hacker have to know one hell of alot about computer systems that run industrial plants,
especialy nuclear plants,to be able to shut them down ?
Could this worm have been developed by an exceedingly skilled/trained group of hackers ?
Is this Industrial Espionage ?

How is it that a Nuclear plant has a security system that is connected to the Internet anyway? Wouldn't it have it's own highly secured internal computer system ?
Would they actually remotely network through an outside system like a world wide web ? Why, is it cheaper?

Will a "Worm" be the demise of the Middle East?

Could this worm cause a melt down ?

Could this worm, or one like it take control and launch nuclear missiles ?

I have the eirie feeling that the US/Isreal are behind the suxtnet worm.
It is reputed to be tailor made to gum up the works of a nuclear plant.
Ive read its a harmless thing till it gets the kinds of prompts that tell it that it is ensconced in an atomic system, then it activates itself to cause disruption.
This is just too too convenient timing dont you think?
And what of bushier reactor?
Is it also afected?This could be a possible self inflicted nuclear disaster if the worm ruined the control mechanisms now.
With Amadinijihad mentioning the possibility iran would stop enriching has the worm already done something irretrievable to their program?

reply to post by stirling


I do feel that this has been developed to screw with Iran for starters and maybe other countrys will be felled also.
Down like dominos

I remember hearing stories of the Russians selling faulty equipment to Iraq prior to the U.S invading. Something like bad night goggles and other such items. Could the Ruskies have sold Iran faulty equipment? Could they have helped build a nuclear facility that they knew would self destruct?

If anyone remembers the issues surrounding Y2K, many of these systems back then were automated as well, and ran on systems powered by COBOL.

I'm pretty sure that Iran's technological status would see us looking at thier existing infrastructure and realize that it is none other than the same systems that were recoded at a furious rate by us back pre 2000 A.D., and they too run on Cobol.

I can also surmise that thier systems are just as weak and vulnerable today as ours were back then.

All one would have to do is reset thier digital clocks to resume pre 1999 server times and watch these unpatched systems fold once 010100 is reached.... or better yet... perhaps even 011011, a more suitable Masonic demise....

Well it did hit the nuclear plant

Here is an update:

Worm hits computers of staff at Iran nuclear plant
Malware hits personal computers of staff at Iranian nuclear plant

Nasser Karimi, Associated Press Writer, On Sunday September 26, 2010, 7:43 am EDT


TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- A complex computer worm capable of seizing control of industrial plants has affected the personal computers of staff working at Iran's first nuclear power station weeks before the facility is to go online, the official news agency reported Sunday.

The project manager at the Bushehr nuclear plant, Mahmoud Jafari, said a team is trying to remove the malware from several affected computers, though it "has not caused any damage to major systems of the plant," the IRNA news agency reported.


It was the first sign that the malicious computer code, dubbed Stuxnet, which has spread to many industries in Iran, has also affected equipment linked to the country's nuclear program, which is at the core of the dispute between Tehran and Western powers like the United States.

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