Despite suspicions that the US itself could be behind the Flame malware that's been spreading across the Middle East, the Department of Homeland Security is warning American businesses to exercise caution when it comes to the sophisticated virus. Warnings aside, they're also quick to assure everyone that no infections from the virus have been discovered in the US so far.
The warning describes the virus as a sophisticated espionage tool that can eavesdrop on data traffic, take screenshots, and even record audio and keystrokes – in fact, the UN's International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has called it the most dangerous digital espionage tool ever. The DHS is quick to assure us that Flame's origin is still a mystery to them.
A report published by the New York Times, where an anonymous source claims that the earlier, and eerily similar, Stuxnet attack was ordered directly by President Barack Obama, isn't doing too much to inspire confidence when it comes to governmental involvement in the Flame virus. Of course, it's still possible. What do we know?
Still, Symantic compares the use of Flame to using an atomic bomb to crack a nut, and there's a serious threat of collateral damage. We might not ever know who was responsible or why it was created, but whatever the case, they must have felt the threat they were targeting was pretty serious. In the meantime, we really suggest you check out the New York Times' history of the Middle Eastern cyberattacks. It's a pretty good read.
Sources: MSNBC | The Telegraph | The New York Times
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