Stuxnet Worm Crafted by U.S., Israel to Thwart Iran's Nuclear Program

[+Warwagon MVC]

Stuxnet Worm Crafted by U.S., Israel to Thwart Iran's Nuclear Program

The Stuxnet virus that emerged in 2010 was a cyber weapon jointly developed by U.S. and Israeli officials in an effort to shut down the development of Iran's nuclear program, according to a report from the New York Times.

Stuxnet, an effort known as Olympic Games among U.S. intelligence officials, started in the Bush administration and continued after President Obama took office. It was intended to only affect the Natanz plant in Iran, but was mistakenly unleashed on the global Web.

"It appears to be the first time the United States has repeatedly used cyberweapons to cripple another country's infrastructure, achieving, with computer code, what until then could be accomplished only by bombing a country or sending in agents to plant explosives," according to the Times.

Olympic Games dates back to 2006 when the Iranians re-started their uranium enrichment program at Natanz. According to the Times, the Bush administration considered military action, until General James E. Cartwright and other intelligence officials suggested cyber attacks. After a months-long effort to infiltrate the Natanz computer systems, U.S. officials teamed up with a secret Israeli unit to release the Stuxnet worm, the Times said.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2405191,00.asp

[bjoswald]

All this did was further push them to proceed with the program, isolate themselves and disregard UN peace talks.

Why do we still wonder why the world hates us?

[Argi]

All this did was further push them to proceed with the program, isolate themselves and disregard UN peace talks.

I doubt it changed Iran's plans (whatever they really are) aside from being a nuisance.

[ylcard]

Anyone read this report ? I see "anonymous" (not the group, the actual word) all over it, funny, and typical.

[Noir Angel]

It was the illuminati and NWO I tells you! it's all a scary conspiracy to control the world! :o

[FloatingFatMan]

This thread belongs in the Conspiracy Theories section...

[.Neo]

Why do we still wonder why the world hates us?

That has more to do with Americans coming to, let's say, the Netherlands and are in utter shock they encounter a highly advanced country and actually vent they're amazed by that fact to the local population. The arrogance can be staggering at times. :/

[Vice]

It was obvious that it was designed by America and Israel. They are the two governments who won't shut up about Irans nuclear program and both have some of the best programmers in the world.

Let us just examine what was required to deliver this piece of malicious malware.

4 Zero day (aka unpublished) exploits for Microsoft Windows

Expensive Siemens CNC Machines + Centrifuges which could be used to enrich uranium thus limited for sale to certain countries

A spy inside Iran who could deliver Stuxnet via USB Thumbstick.

When you take all these things in to consideration it really narrows down who could not only perform it but who had motive. Then combine this with the mountain of information on Stuxnet from all the security companies around the world who have taken a look at it and said it was definitely intelligence class software.. well it all becomes clear.

This was one of the most sophisticated unattended attacks ever seen. All the parts and detail that went in to creating it is unrivalled. Even the recent Flame that was just found didn't use multiple zero day exploits or target specific hardware (like the Siemens CNC machines) that maleware by comparison is a bomb while Stuxnet is a surgical knife.

[ylcard]

It was obvious that it was designed by America and Israel. They are the two governments who won't shut up about Irans nuclear program and both have some of the best programmers in the world.

Let us just examine what was required to deliver this piece of malicious malware.

4 Zero day (aka unpublished) exploits for Microsoft Windows

Expensive Siemens CNC Machines + Centrifuges which could be used to enrich uranium thus limited for sale to certain countries

A spy inside Iran who could deliver Stuxnet via USB Thumbstick.

When you take all these things in to consideration it really narrows down who could not only perform it but who had motive. Then combine this with the mountain of information on Stuxnet from all the security companies around the world who have taken a look at it and said it was definitely intelligence class software.. well it all becomes clear.

This was one of the most sophisticated unattended attacks ever seen. All the parts and detail that went in to creating it is unrivalled. Even the recent Flame that was just found didn't use multiple zero day exploits or target specific hardware (like the Siemens CNC machines) that maleware by comparison is a bomb while Stuxnet is a surgical knife.

Are you ****ing kidding me ? Since when do we use that kind of logic to determine the responsible in anything, let alone something huge like this ? The two have nothing to do with each other, I could talk about how I hate *that guy* until I'm blue in the face, if he dies one day it doesn't mean I ****ing killed him, now does it ? Talking is irrelevant, the same goes for having good programmers, it's like saying that the police are responsible for the murders in X, because they have weapons!

Yes, let us examine this.

1. Wow, that's pretty impressive, but how does that prove that it was Israeli made ? Is there something I'm missing here, are zero day attacks/exploits only available to Israel and the US ? Is there some kind of a system here ? I have to say, this has nothing to do with Stuxnet's origins.

2. Siemens in a German company. How is that when Siemens "cooperates" with a US company, or the government, whichever, it's immediately proof of "something", but Siemens being a German company has no bearing on Stuxnet's origins ? Selective much ? Not that I'm saying it's German, though.

3. Ah, and again, double agents are exclusive property of Israel and the US. Oh, and USB devices too !! Only available in Israel !

****.

[Knife Party]

Are you ****ing kidding me ? Since when do we use that kind of logic to determine the responsible in anything, let alone something huge like this ? The two have nothing to do with each other, I could talk about how I hate *that guy* until I'm blue in the face, if he dies one day it doesn't mean I ****ing killed him, now does it ? Talking is irrelevant, the same goes for having good programmers, it's like saying that the police are responsible for the murders in X, because they have weapons!

Yes, let us examine this.

1. Wow, that's pretty impressive, but how does that prove that it was Israeli made ? Is there something I'm missing here, are zero day attacks/exploits only available to Israel and the US ? Is there some kind of a system here ? I have to say, this has nothing to do with Stuxnet's origins.

2. Siemens in a German company. How is that when Siemens "cooperates" with a US company, or the government, whichever, it's immediately proof of "something", but Siemens being a German company has no bearing on Stuxnet's origins ? Selective much ? Not that I'm saying it's German, though.

3. Ah, and again, double agents are exclusive property of Israel and the US. Oh, and USB devices too !! Only available in Israel !

****.

:laugh:

[Vice]

Are you ****ing kidding me ? Since when do we use that kind of logic to determine the responsible in anything, let alone something huge like this ? The two have nothing to do with each other, I could talk about how I hate *that guy* until I'm blue in the face, if he dies one day it doesn't mean I ****ing killed him, now does it ? Talking is irrelevant, the same goes for having good programmers, it's like saying that the police are responsible for the murders in X, because they have weapons!

Yes, let us examine this.

1. Wow, that's pretty impressive, but how does that prove that it was Israeli made ? Is there something I'm missing here, are zero day attacks/exploits only available to Israel and the US ? Is there some kind of a system here ? I have to say, this has nothing to do with Stuxnet's origins.

2. Siemens in a German company. How is that when Siemens "cooperates" with a US company, or the government, whichever, it's immediately proof of "something", but Siemens being a German company has no bearing on Stuxnet's origins ? Selective much ? Not that I'm saying it's German, though.

3. Ah, and again, double agents are exclusive property of Israel and the US. Oh, and USB devices too !! Only available in Israel !

****.

You sound mad. But it was America and Israel regardless of your rage. My logic is flawless, which is why all the swearing I imagine. Come back with a valid argument without the expletives and I'll take you seriously.

[ylcard]

You sound mad. But it was America and Israel regardless of your rage. My logic is flawless, which is why all the swearing I imagine. Come back with a valid argument without the expletives and I'll take you seriously.

Riiiiiight, okay then, you've convinced me with your infallible logic. "All" the swearing, you mean the three F words I used ? My god, that must invalidate my argument! You sound so sophisticated by telling me to "come back" with a valid argument, I see it now, I failed miserably.

If you had any "valid" arguments you'd see past the "expletives" and reply with something more meaningful than this poor cop out.

You're just like DocM, you're spewing all this bull**** that is completely without a source (a REAL source, not "some guy is a coat and a fedora" source) and your argument is that it can't be anything else and reject any notion of it being something else by either completely ignoring it (like you just did) or using the same "sources" to give credibility to the story, going in circles that is.

Get actual evidence and real sources, and then I'll take you seriously.

[Vice]

Riiiiiight, okay then, you've convinced me with your infallible logic. "All" the swearing, you mean the three F words I used ? My god, that must invalidate my argument! You sound so sophisticated by telling me to "come back" with a valid argument, I see it now, I failed miserably.

If you had any "valid" arguments you'd see past the "expletives" and reply with something more meaningful than this poor cop out.

You're just like DocM, you're spewing all this bull**** that is completely without a source (a REAL source, not "some guy is a coat and a fedora" source) and your argument is that it can't be anything else and reject any notion of it being something else by either completely ignoring it (like you just did) or using the same "sources" to give credibility to the story, going in circles that is.

Get actual evidence and real sources, and then I'll take you seriously.

Such hostility and yet more swearing. Again come back without the swearing and in-fact drop the attitude too. It is people posting like you are that make this a hostile forum to use. Really.

[+Xinok Subscriber²]

The simple fact is, the U.S. and Israel are the prime suspects (note I use the word suspects). The resources, expertise, intelligence, and collaboration required to pull off such an attack is unprecedented. The only other possibility is that Iran did this to themselves to play the victim.

[Arachno 1D]

The confirmation from Obama-administration officials that Stuxnet was a joint US-operation comes from extracts from a forthcoming book, Confront and Conceal: Obama's Secret Wars and Surprising Use of American Power, by David Sanger that's due to be published next week.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/06/01/stuxnet_joint_us_israeli_op/

[Growled Member]

So Obama and the American government are terrorists now.

[Hum]

^ They sure scare me :laugh:

[Athlonite]

I think it's just sad how the powers that be are far to soft on those countries who persist in nuclear programs after being told NO you can't have it as we don't trust you with it

frack it just bomb the bozo's and be done with it turn Iran into a wasteland and show the rest of the world this kinda BS wont be tolerated

[ylcard]

The simple fact is, the U.S. and Israel are the prime suspects (note I use the word suspects). The resources, expertise, intelligence, and collaboration required to pull off such an attack is unprecedented. The only other possibility is that Iran did this to themselves to play the victim.

And I totally agree with you. I just don't like to see armchair-generals and/or secret agents here on Neowin talking out of their rears.

[Motoko.]

And I totally agree with you. I just don't like to see armchair-generals and/or secret agents here on Neowin talking out of their rears.

Not the case at all you just don't like it when the truth isn't twisted to the normal manipulation you're accustomed to.

But that's alright though you still have the major media corps on your side

[ylcard]

Not the case at all you just don't like it when the truth isn't twisted to the normal manipulation you're accustomed to.

But that's alright though you still have the major media corps on your side

You seem to know me so well, can you please provide an example of your claim ?

I wasn't aware of any major news corps being on my side.

[Noir Angel]

It's interesting that so many people are prepared to render judgement before any evidence has been put forth. It strikes me as being an intriguing theory but little more than that until someone puts forth some actual evidence.

[Memphis]

You seem to know me so well, can you please provide an example of your claim ?

I wasn't aware of any major news corps being on my side.

I seem to recall most western news outlets literally not printing even one story about the Palestinian papers leak.

[dogmatix]

Let's rewind to the beginning and ask some questions:

1) Your neighbour - who has declared his intention to wipe you off the map - is building a nuclear weapons capability. Is it sensible to wait to find out if he is going to carry out his threat?

2) Instead of launching a military strike, you deploy software to hinder his industrial capacity to destroy you. Is this a more civilised response than attacking him with conventional or nuclear weaponry?

[Memphis]

Let's rewind to the beginning and ask some questions:

1) Your neighbour - who has declared his intention to wipe you off the map - is building a nuclear weapons capability. Is it sensible to wait to find out if he is going to carry out his threat?

2) Instead of launching a military strike, you deploy software to hinder his industrial capacity to destroy you. Is this a more civilised response than attacking him with conventional or nuclear weaponry?

Was never said even once, see practically every analysis performed one the supposed ONE comment he made like this. I think leaving Iran alone and not provoking them is the more civilized approach.