Posted on 07/24/2012 12:17:53 PM PDT by GSWarrior
Iranian nuclear facilities have reportedly been attacked by a “music” virus, turning on lab PCs at night and blasting AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck.”
Mikko Hypponen, Chief Researcher at Finnish digital security firm F-secure, publicly released a letter he received from an unnamed Iranian scientist. The researcher, who claimed to work for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), said that another virus has struck the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in central Iran and a secret underground research facility at Fordo, southwest of Tehran.
The letter’s author reported that the virus shut down equipment (made by Germany’s Siemens Corporation) and automated systems at both research centers.
Hypponen published the letter on his blog, but cautioned that there is no way for him to verify the accusations. He was able to confirm, however, that the letter did originate from the AEOI’s servers.
The letter, which was reportedly sent to various cybersecurity experts, said that Metasploit’s Penetration Testing Software had been used to direct this new attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. The scientist stressed that he is not a cybersecurity specialist, and does not have detailed information on the virus.
“There was also some music playing randomly on several of the workstations during the middle of the night with the volume maxed out. I believe it was playing ‘Thunderstruck’ by AC/DC,” the scientist wrote.
If true, this attack is the third hacking attempt aimed at Tehran’s controversial nuclear program. In 2010, the state-of-the-art Stuxnet virus set Iran’s nuclear ambitions back by at least two years.
In May 2012, experts at Russia’s Kaspersky Laboratories exposed another Trojan virus called Flame, which was designed to spy on web activity in Iran and some Middle Eastern countries. Russian cybersecurity experts labeled Flame “probably the most complicated virus ever.”
Iran claimed to have found a way to neutralize Flame.
I’d go for “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” With a very large chorus.
I’d think it appropriate to have Stuck Mojo’s song Open Season come randomly blaring out of their computers day or night.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymLJz3N8ayI
Do you suppose the Amish will get the blame?
I have to get this to Brian. I get to see him occasionally when he is racing. Damn, he is one funny guy!
WOW, thanks for the goose-bumps.
Or better yet, the parody version, “Dirty Deeds Done With Sheep”.
“Stuck Mojo’s song Open Season”
Now you’re talking!
Brian’s first hit was Hells Bells.
We blasted it every morning during the muj’s call to prayer during the second battle for Fallujah.
The PAO got a message from the AC/DC publicist saying Malcolm and Angus didn’t want us to use it that way.
Of course that message was garbled and we kept at it.
Takes over computers and blasts AC/DC? That’s not a bug, that’s a feature!
“Don't get us upset or we'll do something nuclear!”
“Ayatollah” [1979] by “Steve Dahl & Teenage Radiation”
Pink Floyds, Pigs on the wing
may be quite appropriate too.
I’ll see your “A Mighty Fortress...” and raise you “The Battle Hymn of The Republic.”
“Trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored” more faithfully comports with the near-term future of Iran’s nuclear program, and the personnel involved.
Of course, in that vein, the chosen “Thunderstruck” fits; and — once having been soundly thunderstruck — the stricken will find themselves upon the “Highway to Hell,” so that fits, too.
Ha! My name is Brian Johnson, and I also listen to Rush Limbaugh!
Am I the only one that thought the first time they heard “You Shook Me” that it was Bob Seger?
He hangs out at the Irish Rover Pub in Sarasota. He does a lot of stuff with local musicians
How does a computer virus reach out and turn the little knob on the speakers?
http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/archives/00002403.html
I am writing you to inform you that our nuclear program has once again been compromised and attacked by a new worm with exploits which have shut down our automation network at Natanz and another facility Fordo near Qom.
According to the email our cyber experts sent to our teams, they believe a hacker tool Metasploit was used. The hackers had access to our VPN. The automation network and Siemens hardware were attacked and shut down. I only know very little about these cyber issues as I am scientist not a computer expert.
There was also some music playing randomly on several of the workstations during the middle of the night with the volume maxed out. I believe it was playing ‘Thunderstruck’ by AC/DC.
I’m not sure what to think about this. We can’t confirm any of the details. However, we can confirm that the researcher was sending and receiving emails from within the AEOI.
Mikko
Nonono..this needs a real masterstroke of situational humor:
(Especially if the virus really does control volume and start-up!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdJH7Y56c7Y
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