In 2010 the Stuxnet virus hit the computers that controlled Iran’s nuclear centrifuges, destroying many of them.
The attack came to light after a researcher at security firm F-Secure received a string of emails from a Iran’s atomic energy organisation.
“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.”
“There was also some music playing randomly on several of the workstations during the middle of the night with the volume maxed out,” says the scientist. “I believe it was playing ‘Thunderstruck’ by AC/DC.”
Many claimed the complexity of the Stuxnet virus. which was almost completely invisible and able to effectively delete itself after it had done its work, meant that it was likely to have been a state-developed tool.
However this latest virus appears more likely to be the work of an independent entity hacking for kicks.
