"Iran Hit by Secret Cyber Warfare"
By gladys46
@gladys46 (1205)
United States
January 18, 2011 1:45pm CST
An article appearing in the NY Times discusses the "Dimona" complex located in the Negev desert, heavily guarded in the heart of Israel. That the operations at Dimona as well as related efforts in the US has effectively destroyed/wiped out roughly a fifth of Iran's nuclear centrifuges by the release of a cyber worm which helped delay Tehran's ability to make its first nuclear arms. Further that Israel was successful in testing this worm out on its own centrifuges.
In recent days, the retiring chief of Israel's Mossad intelligenc agency, Meir Dagan, and the US SOS, Hillary Clinton, separately announced that they believe Iran's efforts had been set back by several years.
Many mysteriers remain states this article.
Various pundits are suggesting that this action by Israel and the US (meaning President Obama) is using "brains and not bombs" ... what do you think?
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4 responses
@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
18 Jan 11
I haven't read that they have accepted responsibility for making it but only using it on Iran. I doubt President Obama was directly connected to it other than maybe signing an executive order to use it (or not). As far as "brains" we will have to wait and see what the long term outcome of it is. The first thing I thought of was how is it going to be used against us in the future. Symantec seems to think it was a bad idea and other people or governments will now use it to cause cyber terrorism anywhere now: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130260413
Also in the NYT they said it is like handing out a professional playbook on viruses and will give others ideas on what to do next.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/16/world/middleeast/16stuxnet.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1
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@gladys46 (1205)
• United States
18 Jan 11
Yes, that is much to think about ... retaliation. Some suggest Iran not having the capability of same such retaliation.
I should say that in the article I read, it is stated according to the "experts" familiar with this operation, this has been promoted heavily in the last two years.
It is very interesting that the Mossad and US SOS Hillary Clinton separately announced that they believed Iran's efforts had been set back by several years. I'm thinking, why these statements .. from these same people.
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@Adoniah (7512)
• United States
19 Jan 11
The "Cyber Worm" has set the Nuclear advancement of Iran back at least 5 years...enough time for the economic climate of Iran to deteriorate enough that the current "President" will not even come close to winning another term even if he tries to cheat again.
Hopefully this virus or worm will not be used again on anyone else...it is nasty. Using a "cyber worm" is preferable to starting another war is it not? It is time to stop killing the innocents!
@gladys46 (1205)
• United States
19 Jan 11
I suppose one would say that in a free press nation (America) there can be no secrets really! However, who is officially taking the credit for this cyber worm? I hear certain officials stating how set back Iran's enrichment capabilities are now ...but, the loud and clear official WHY is so far not forthcoming.
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@anniepa (27955)
• United States
20 Jan 11
My first thought is using brains and not bombs is the best way to deal with a problem like Iran! As someone who is opposed to war unless it's the VERY last resort, I sure hope it's true that Iran's nuclear capabilities have been set back several years.
As others have said, I certainly hope nobody has the means or the knowledge to do the same thing to us or to our allies but I'd hope we're enough ahead of the technology to protect ourselves. You're right, this is still mysterious is many ways and it will sure be interesting to see what happens in the days and months to come.
Annie
@liuyh0619 (108)
• China
19 Jan 11
Obviously they can't admit that,there isn't much difference between release cyber worm with initial a war. From now on, every nation will consider how to deal with it when it's used to be againest them in the future, that would prompt the other nations to develop the OS and software by themselves, otherwise when the war hit on, the only way they can do is to wait to die.
@gladys46 (1205)
• United States
19 Jan 11
At the article that I read, the writer Wm. Broad states: "The operations at Dimona, as well as related efforts in the US, are among the newest and strongest clues suggesting that the virus was designed as an American-Israeli project to sabotage the Iranian program." He states further: "The attacks were not fully successful. Some parts of Iran's operations ground to a halt, while others survived. Nor is it clear the attacks are over: some experts who have examined the code believe it contains the seeds for yet more versions and assaults."
I'm just not sure how I feel about all of this, the jury is still out for my pro or con as well.
However, I have heard of no body counts thus far.
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