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IRAN SAYS STUXNET COMPUTER WORM HALTED
December 25, 2012 - 14:44 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - An Internet virus attacked computers at industrial
sites in southern Iran, in an apparent extension of a covert cyber
war that initially targeted the country's nuclear facilities, an
Iranian official said, according to Reuters.
Iran, the world's No. 5 oil exporter, has tightened online security
since its uranium enrichment centrifuges were hit in 2010 by
the Stuxnet computer worm, which Tehran believes was planted by
arch-adversaries Israel or the United States.
The unit tasked with fighting cyber attacks, the Passive Defense
Organization, said a virus had infected several sites in Hormozgan
province in recent months but was neutralized.
"Enemies are constantly attacking Iran's industrial units through
Internet networks in order to create disruptions," Ali Akbar Akhavan,
head of the Hormozgan branch of the organization, was quoted as saying
by the Iranian Students' News Agency on Tuesday, Dec 25.
"This virus has even penetrated some manufacturing industries in
Hormozgan province, but with timely measures and the cooperation
of skilled hackers in the province, the progress of this virus was
halted," Akhavan said.
"As an example, the Bandar Abbas Tavanir Co., a producer of electricity
in the province and even adjacent provinces, has been the target of
Internet attacks in recent months," he said.
Bandar Abbas is the capital of Hormozgan province on Iran's southern
coast and home to an oil refinery and container port.
Israeli officials have threatened military action against Iranian
nuclear facilities if Western sanctions on Tehran's banking and oil
sectors do not persuade the Islamic Republic to shelve its disputed
atomic program.
Western powers suspect Iran is trying to develop the means to produce
nuclear weapons. Tehran says it is enriching uranium only for civilian
energy.
Iranian authorities said in April that a computer virus was detected
inside the control systems of Kharg Island - which handles the vast
majority of Iran's crude oil exports - but the terminal had remained
operational.
Cyber attackers also slowed Iran's Internet and attacked its offshore
oil and gas platforms this year, Iranian officials have said.
December 25, 2012 - 14:44 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - An Internet virus attacked computers at industrial
sites in southern Iran, in an apparent extension of a covert cyber
war that initially targeted the country's nuclear facilities, an
Iranian official said, according to Reuters.
Iran, the world's No. 5 oil exporter, has tightened online security
since its uranium enrichment centrifuges were hit in 2010 by
the Stuxnet computer worm, which Tehran believes was planted by
arch-adversaries Israel or the United States.
The unit tasked with fighting cyber attacks, the Passive Defense
Organization, said a virus had infected several sites in Hormozgan
province in recent months but was neutralized.
"Enemies are constantly attacking Iran's industrial units through
Internet networks in order to create disruptions," Ali Akbar Akhavan,
head of the Hormozgan branch of the organization, was quoted as saying
by the Iranian Students' News Agency on Tuesday, Dec 25.
"This virus has even penetrated some manufacturing industries in
Hormozgan province, but with timely measures and the cooperation
of skilled hackers in the province, the progress of this virus was
halted," Akhavan said.
"As an example, the Bandar Abbas Tavanir Co., a producer of electricity
in the province and even adjacent provinces, has been the target of
Internet attacks in recent months," he said.
Bandar Abbas is the capital of Hormozgan province on Iran's southern
coast and home to an oil refinery and container port.
Israeli officials have threatened military action against Iranian
nuclear facilities if Western sanctions on Tehran's banking and oil
sectors do not persuade the Islamic Republic to shelve its disputed
atomic program.
Western powers suspect Iran is trying to develop the means to produce
nuclear weapons. Tehran says it is enriching uranium only for civilian
energy.
Iranian authorities said in April that a computer virus was detected
inside the control systems of Kharg Island - which handles the vast
majority of Iran's crude oil exports - but the terminal had remained
operational.
Cyber attackers also slowed Iran's Internet and attacked its offshore
oil and gas platforms this year, Iranian officials have said.