[blam]

It's Always Something (IAS)

[blam]

Key European Nuclear Firms Attacked By Variation On Stuxnet Virus

Adam Taylor
Oct. 19, 2011, 1:18 PM

Image: Flickr Swobodin

Several European firms that create software that controls industrial facilities, including nuclear reactors, have been hit by a virus that extracts information from their systems, The New York Times reports.

The virus, known as Duqu, appears to have been made by the same people who made the Stuxnet virus, an infamous cyber weapon that attacked the Iran nuclear program last summer.

Internet security organization Symantec describe Duqu on their website:

Duqu is essentially the precursor to a future Stuxnet-like attack. The threat was written by the same authors (or those that have access to the Stuxnet source code) and appears to have been created since the last Stuxnet file was recovered. Duqu's purpose is to gather intelligence data and assets from entities, such as industrial control system manufacturers, in order to more easily conduct a future attack against another third party. The attackers are looking for information such as design documents that could help them mount a future attack on an industrial control facility.

One key point outlined by Systemac is that whoever created the file has access to the source code of Stuxnet, and is likely the creator of the previous virus.

But who created Stuxnet? While initial reports suggested Israel, other reports suggested China or even the United States. Could any of them have an interest in European nuclear security?

Vikram Thakur of Symantec told the Times, “This is extremely sophisticated, this is cutting edge.”

[jrd]

what A$$hole put these systems on the internet why are they not on a closed network?

[IamCenny]

So if Norton and Symantec have identified it, then it’s a non - issue, just have either company roll out a script online that anyone can download for free to remove it, problem solved.

[Kartographer]

Not much would cause SHTF here in America faster than a widespread and long term power outage, especially in highly urban areas.

I think such a scenario could cause some major civil disturbances because the ‘Yutes’ are already restless and when you add the fact that because of the economy people are already on edge it won’t take much to set things off.

Reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:

“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Siege of AR-558 (#7.8)” (1998)
Quark: Let me tell you something about Hew-mons, Nephew. They’re a wonderful, friendly people, as long as their bellies are full and their holosuites are working. But take away their creature comforts, deprive them of food, sleep, sonic showers, put their lives in jeopardy over an extended period of time and those same friendly, intelligent, wonderful people... will become as nasty and as violent as the most bloodthirsty Klingon. You don’t believe me? Look at those faces. Look in their eyes.

Today we have ‘yutes’ who roam our streets who are with out morals, without respect for law or life itself. They will look are you with the same ‘doll eyes’ a shark does before he eats you and they will feel no more compassion than the shark does.

That will be the test of many. Most preppers I know are Christian people and they will hesitate to do what they might have to do to stop the ‘yutes’. On the other hand the ‘yutes’ won’t think twice nor lose a minute of sleep, in fact they will smile and laugh about it.

For those who are just starting or are old hands at prepping you may find my Preparedness Manual helpfull. You can download it at:

http://www.tomeaker.com/kart/preparedness1i.pdf

For those of you who haven’t started already it’s time to prepare almost past time maybe. You needed to be stocking up on food guns, ammo, basic household supplies like soap, papergoods, cleaning supplies, good sturdy clothes including extra socks, underwear and extra shoes and boots, a extra couple changes of oil and filters for your car, tools, things you buy everyday start buying two and put one up.

As the LDS say “When the emergency is upon us the time for preparedness has past.”

Or as the bible says: A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.
NIV Proverbs 22:3

Lastly this for the doubters and the scoffers.

“There is no greater disaster than to underestimate danger.

Underestimation can be fatal.”

[Kartographer]

Preppers PING!!

[Fledermaus]

Wow, that must be one big condom.

[Mark17]

Greg Shaffer warned that hackers and foreign governments are “knocking on the backdoor” of the networked systems which connect everything from infrastructure grid control systems to financial networks.

I wonder if our own experts are "knocking on the back door" of the systems of our enemies, like they do to us?

[DJ MacWoW]

End Of The Line?

That's Up To You

Donate

[Wurlitzer]

If Symantec said the sun rises in the morning I would have to look outside to verify it. They failed to provide a 2 year protection plan I paid in advance for and in fact refused to ever acknowledge a singe communication.

McAfee was caught developing viruses and shazzam creating a fix.

[Wurlitzer]

If Symantec said the sun rises in the morning I would have to look outside to verify it. They failed to provide a 2 year protection plan I paid in advance for and in fact refused to ever acknowledge a single communication.

McAfee was caught developing viruses and shazzam creating a fix.

[GOPJ]

Instead of directly targeting the SCADA system, Duqu gathers “intelligence data and assets from entities, such as industrial control system manufacturers, in order to more easily conduct a future attack against another third party. The attackers are looking for information such as design documents that could help them mount a future attack on an industrial control facility.”

Doesn't that sound more 'Chinese-like'?

[ShadowAce]

[ShadowAce]

[bgill]

There seems to be no immediate danger at this time, as the Duqu trojan is reportedly gathering intelligence

Not dangerous? Really? Information is power. One access code and you're inside and capable of doing anything.