Posted on 12/24/2010 9:11:34 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Malicious computer virus accelerated, wrecked motors and may have decommissioned uranium enrichment centrifuges, think tank concludes.
Talkbacks (10) The Stuxnet virus that has infected Irans nuclear installations may have been behind the decommissioning of 1,000 centrifuges at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility earlier this year, according to a new analysis of the malicious software.
Prepared by the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security, the paper raised the possibility that the reported breakage of 1,000 centrifuges was caused by the virus.
According to the paper, the timing of the removal of 1,000 centrifuges was consistent with a statement made last month by Ali Akbar Salehi, then-head of Irans Atomic Energy Organization and recently appointed as the countrys foreign minister, who confirmed in an interview: One year and several months ago, Westerners sent a virus to [our] countrys nuclear sites.
There are currently approximately 10,000 IR-1 centrifuges installed inside the Natanz uranium enrichment plant, according to the report.
(Excerpt) Read more at jpost.com ...
Maybe. But I have to say that I think this may be wishful thinking.
This virus is so cool, i gotta get one myself!
A justified act of self-defense on Israel’s (and the West’s) part.
Here’s hoping it set the Iranians back by a number of years.
RE: A justified act of self-defense on Israels (and the Wests) part.
Everyone is assuming Israel did it, but no one really knows for sure.
the US governments response should be...”none of my business. Sorry for your loss. Should have maybe purchased some anti-virus software.” (snicker-snort)
No, Israel won’t be calling a presser anytime soon and admitting guilt, but it’s a pretty good educated guess who’s responsible.
Well it makes for a Merry Christmas all around. Lets all lift our glasses to the virus. Hip Hip Hooray!!!
The virus can attack systems that control the logistics.
The equipment would not be harmed.
Besides, these people are not as ignorant as the media suggest. It is the folks listening and putting validity in these stories I question.
The Iranians have contingencies for operational systems. Technical experts from various countries such as China and Russia have trained these guys.
Mossad is temporarily causing a hiccup for the Persians, but rest assured, their plans are moving forward.
I wouldn't at all be surprised to hear the announcement in the new year of a nuclear armed Iran with all the trimmings of military parade and so forth.
So, how many times over the last few decades has our intelligence fallen down on the job and have been taken completely off guard?
Let me help....dozens of times.
10% or less reduction, maybe not.
Was the virus caught after it had done all the damage intended, or was it caught by Iranians before it could complete its total mission? It seem s like a lot of work just to destroy 10% of Iran’s capacity.
As I understand it, the only way that the Iranis can be sure that Stuxnet has been cleansed from their installations is to complete scrap all computers,the VFD's that control the centrifuge motors and any microprocesser controlled MCC devices between the motors and the Control System computers.
We just had to have the vendor scrap all MCC control and feedback devices (screwed up revision for Modbus) at a plant I'm working at, it's quite a job. And we are only in the mid stage of start-up operations.
The centrifuges were harmed by overspeed and uncontrolled speed changes. Anything that spins fast is very vulnerable to this.
So they’ve reported.
Please don’t believe all of what you hear.
Author! Author!!
The only possibility of harm is to the SCADA controls of the inverters that power the magnetic motors on the centrifuges. They could be programmed to send erratic voltages causing the rpms to vary.
That would decrease the efficiency of the extraction but would not harm the centrifuge at all.
Israeli PR is in high gear as usual, thinking the world is too ignorant to see through the bs. Yes, I would love to see the Iranian centrifuges destroyed, but no, this is all wishful and useless thinking.
The equipment would not be harmed.
I believe you may be mistaken , the virus attacks Siemans software which monitors / controls the speed of the enrichment centrifuges. It "spun" up the Motors to beyond their "RED" lines therefore damaging them
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