Technology industry computers have been infected by a virus (“a quiet and sophisticated malicious software program”). The malware is known as Stuxnet. Though a computer virus seems to be a common occurrence, what I thought was interesting about this RSS feed article was that Stuxnet attacked the software in the specialized equipment made by Siemens (the same company John Rabe worked for).
The malware has the ability to steal design documents and sabotage the factory equipment. It appears to have been created to attack an Iranian industrial facility. Initially, it was thought that spying was the primary purpose of Stuxnet, but it has been found that the malware can also make changes to the systems it has infiltrated. Siemens said it had received over a dozen reports from affected customers, including 5 located in Germany. The malware was successfully removed from each affected system by commercial anti-virus programs.
The creators of this malware had detailed knowledge of Siemens’ software and its security weaknesses. Virus purposes and their identification and ultimate destruction are fascinating. With our digital age, are we at risk of losing all our knowledge to a virus?
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/malware-hits-computerized-industrial-equipment/?partner=rss&emc=rss
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