US created Stuxnet worm to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities

The Stuxnet worm, which attacked the industrial control systems inside Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities was created by the US and Israeli, official sources have confirmed.

Stuxnet was discovered in mid-2010. It spreads via Windows computers but targets only the Siemens SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) systems used in industrial computers – precisely the type known to be used by Iran in their uranium enrichment facilities. One estimate claims Stuxnet was able to disable 1,000 of the 5,000 centrifuges used at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility – a significant blow to Iran’s program. Iran has insisted its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes but there is international fear that it has ambitions to build nuclear weapons.

The very specific nature of the worm’s targets immediately threw suspicion on the US and Israel as its source, but this had not been officially confirmed until today. Iran’s enrichment sites are typically built deep underground and are heavily fortified, meaning traditional air or ground based strikes are likely to be ineffective – as well as politically disastrous. The idea for the Stuxnet worm was suggested by the CIA and implemented by the NSA working with Israeli intelligence.

Source: Washington Post