Rabu, 20 Juni 2012

Flame virus: The U.S. and Israel 'worked together to develop destructive virus to slow Iran's nuclear program', claims Washington Post

Flame virus: The U.S. and Israel 'worked together to develop destructive virus to slow Iran's nuclear program', claims Washington Post

  • Paper claims two nations developed virus to map Iran's computer networks
  • Virus shares code with another virus that damaged Iran's nuclear program in 2010

By Eddie Wrenn

PUBLISHED: 03:48 EST, 20 June 2012 | UPDATED: 05:44 EST, 20 June 2012



They are two of the most destructive computer viruses ever created, tailor-made for cyber-espionage and capable of wreaking havoc on government systems.

Both Flame and Stuxnet are believed to have been used by the U.S. government to wage online warfare against hostile regimes.

Now The Washington Post has claimed, citing anonymous Western officials, that the United States and Israel jointly developed the Flame computer virus that collected intelligence to help slow Iran's nuclear program.

The so-called Flame malware aimed to map Iran's computer networks and monitor computers of Iranian officials, the newspaper said.

Collaboration: Experts say they have found evidence that the two programmes shared the same source code

Collaboration: Sources say the two nations worked together to develop Flame, with the purpose of damaging Iran's nuclear program

It was designed to provide intelligence to help in a cyber campaign against Iran's nuclear program, involving the National Security Agency, the CIA and Israel's military, the Post said.

The cyber campaign against Iran's nuclear program has included the use of another computer virus called Stuxnet that caused malfunctions in Iran's nuclear enrichment equipment, the newspaper said.

Current and former U.S. and Western national security officials confirmed to Reuters that the United States played a role in creating the Flame virus.

Since Flame was an intelligence 'collection' virus rather than a cyberwarfare program to sabotage computer systems, it required less-stringent U.S. legal and policy review than any U.S. involvement in offensive cyberwarfare efforts, experts told Reuters.

The CIA, NSA, Pentagon, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment.

Flame is the most complex computer spying program ever discovere d.

Two leading computer security firms - Kaspersky Lab and Symantec Corp - have linked some of the software code in the Flame virus to the Stuxnet computer virus, which was widely believed to have been used by the United States and Israel to attack Iran's nuclear program.

The destructive computer worm Stuxnet is believed to have damaged Iran's nuclear programme in 2010.

Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have not been moderated.

  • Newest
  • Oldest
  • Best rated
  • Worst rated

If I were president I'd invite Ahmadinejad to new Mexico and do a nuclear demonstration. And tell him, " this is what will happen to iran 100 times over if you continue this program."

Report abuse

Its not to slow down the Nuclear programme. Its to stop Irans technology on free energy. Thats the real reason behind the scientists deaths.

Report abuse

well done guys the virus spread to japan got into the seamans controlers and so operaters had no control over valves and so the meltdown of the fucushema reactor ocured contaminating the northan hemispher and the whole of the pacific oceon [irradiated tuna anyone] again bravo guys for showing your inteligence and foresight

Report abuse

'..imagine if iran did this?....'- lina, uk, So I take it you favour the idea of Ahmadinejad and the Ayatollah's of Iran armed with nuclear weapons do you? You think that would be a good idea in the pursuance of workd peace and a stable middle east? Well, if you do think that, god help us all if it ever comes true!

Report abuse

Shame..

Report abuse

i wonder why is it only the countries with no military,no aircraft and a lot of oil who are a threat to the world! and by the way does anyone know where's the WMD in iraq? our poor govt only found large amount of oil in iraq and no WMD!

Report abuse

Obama created the virus himself one night after saving the world from imminent disaster.

Report abuse

imagine if iran did this? then they will say an act of war and send every troop,weapons and god knows what to destroy iran! we all know its akll about the oil oil oil! iran dont have and cant make nuke bombs! iran dont even have an aircraft to get anywhere!

Report abuse

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Diposting oleh di

Tidak ada komentar:

Posting Komentar

Langganan: Posting Komentar (Atom)