In a Computer Worm, a Possible Biblical Clue (1364 hits)

New York Times (09/29/10) John Markoff ; David E. Sanger

The presence of the word Myrtus in the code of the Stuxnet worm is being investigated to see if it can shed light on the malware's origin and purpose, with some experts saying it is an allusion to the Book of Esther. The Biblical tale relates the Jews' thwarting of a genocidal Persian plot by a preemptive attack, which has fueled speculation by some specialists that the worm, which targets a specific type of command module for industrial systems, is an attempt to undermine Iran's nuclear enrichment program. Others say the word is misinformation intended to cast suspicion on Israel as the culprit and place pressure on Iran. Stuxnet exploits a Siemens computer that is suspected of being in operation at Iran's uranium enrichment facility, and a decline in operating centrifuges at the plant is considered by some to be a sign of the worm in action. The difficulty experts have had in tracing the source of Stuxnet reflects both the attractiveness and the risk of computer attacks in a new era of cyberwarfare. Malware is appealing to intelligence agencies as a weapon because it leaves no clues to the identity of its perpetrators. However, the lack of traceability makes deterrence difficult, and explains why many have cautioned against the use of cyberweapons.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/30/world/mi... Posted By: Adam Fate
Sunday, October 3rd 2010 at 8:43PM
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