As if we don't have enough to worry about, now there is a particularly malicious computer worm that can literally shut down manufacturing, power and other critical operations. Stuxnet launched 44,000 unique worldwide last week, with 1600 of those in the U.S. The fact that 60% of those infections were in Iran, specifically on the laptops of employees at the Bushehr Nuclear Plant has experts convinced that the worm was let loose in Iran, and possibly originated there.
Experts are saying that Stuxnet is the direst cyber threat ever known to industry. As industries merge networks in an effort to increase efficiency, it makes it that much easier for a worm such as Stuxnet to infect a whole system quickly. Not only that, but it is so complex that it has the ability to sneak in and steal sensitive intellectual property. They stopped short at saying "Classified" or "Top Secret", but the implication is there. The meeting with the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee was to encourage Congress to pass legislation that would expand government controls and that would make systems safer by setting stringent requirements.
Iran is blaming the U.S., saying that it only makes sense since we are against their developing nuclear program even though their appears to be little damage done there. Of course, the damage could be in further harming Iran/U.S. relations, which are strained to begin with.
As an example of what Stuxnet is capable of-the code can enter a system, steal a formula for anything that you are making, alter the ingredients, adding something harmful if it is available, and then tell the antivirus software and the operator that everything is hunky dory. It can change whole manufacturing processes and is capable of bringing an automobile plant to a screeching halt or of "skipping" a vital step in the manufacturing process that puts Americans at risk. This worm is deadly.
It was only a matter of time. There have been experts trying to tell our government before about the threat to a computerized electrical grid and other national systems that could fall prey to a super worm. It looks like the super worm has arrived.
Sammy is a freelance writer who depends upon her computer in order to supplement her family's income. She uses the best antivirus software and still worries about the day that a virus attacks her system. Sammy's garden is a different story. There she can relax and worry about nothing more than a stubborn weed or how big that watermelon will grow. Sammy uses her computer though to order all of her gardening necessities, fromtrellis netting toonion plants. She has found that Garden Harvest Supply has the best selection and the most reasonable prices.
