Comments on: Stuxnet, the worm that targeted Iran's nuclear facilities, was created by US and Israel http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 21 May 2013 17:00:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Fábio Emilio Costa http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1442635 Fábio Emilio Costa Tue, 05 Jun 2012 23:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1442635 When the Brazilian ambassador  Sérgio Vieira de Mello suggest an inspection for Iran, Israel and US, people kicked him like a dog to Iraq, where he lost his life... When the Brazilian ambassador  Sérgio Vieira de Mello suggest an inspection for Iran, Israel and US, people kicked him like a dog to Iraq, where he lost his life…

]]> By: wysinwyg http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1441043 wysinwyg Mon, 04 Jun 2012 14:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1441043 Uh huh, I'm sure the politicians in your country are the picture of propriety. 'Cause corruption is an American art form like jazz and corn-based food substitutes. Uh huh, I’m sure the politicians in your country are the picture of propriety.

‘Cause corruption is an American art form like jazz and corn-based food substitutes.

]]> By: dog3 http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1440617 dog3 Sun, 03 Jun 2012 16:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1440617 I'm not going to defend the U.N.'s effectiveness; their veto rules are insanely counterproductive. But it should be pointed out that even Russia and China, which also hold veto power, have agreed to the sanctions on Iran despite their countries' cozy relationships with it. If anything, the fact that the U.N. managed to pass sanctions at all shows just how united the international community is on the matter of Iran's uranium enrichment program. I’m not going to defend the U.N.’s effectiveness; their veto rules are insanely counterproductive. But it should be pointed out that even Russia and China, which also hold veto power, have agreed to the sanctions on Iran despite their countries’ cozy relationships with it. If anything, the fact that the U.N. managed to pass sanctions at all shows just how united the international community is on the matter of Iran’s uranium enrichment program.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1440496 Antinous / Moderator Sun, 03 Jun 2012 05:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1440496 <blockquote>Comparing this situation to another country infecting the U.S. government's own computer system is extremely disingenuous. Iran has been sanctioned by the U.N. five times since 2006</blockquote>When you refer to the UN, do mean that same UN that allows the US to veto things even if every other country on the planet votes for them?

Comparing this situation to another country infecting the U.S. government’s own computer system is extremely disingenuous. Iran has been sanctioned by the U.N. five times since 2006

When you refer to the UN, do mean that same UN that allows the US to veto things even if every other country on the planet votes for them?

]]> By: dog3 http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1440471 dog3 Sun, 03 Jun 2012 03:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1440471 Follow up: I would like to clarify that my above comment does mean that I would have been completely OK with another country, say...France, sending a virus to the U.S.'s network too, if it could have prevented or slowed the U.S.'s illegal invasion of Iraq. So it cuts both ways. Follow up:

I would like to clarify that my above comment does mean that I would have been completely OK with another country, say…France, sending a virus to the U.S.’s network too, if it could have prevented or slowed the U.S.’s illegal invasion of Iraq. So it cuts both ways.

]]> By: dog3 http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1440468 dog3 Sun, 03 Jun 2012 03:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1440468 Comparing this situation to another country infecting the U.S. government's own computer system is extremely disingenuous. Iran has been sanctioned by the U.N. five times since 2006, yet continues refusing to allow weapons inspectors into its facilities and continuing its uranium enrichment program. If the U.S. repeatedly violated international sanctions and standards, then yes, other countries would be completely justified in crippling its government's computer systems to prevent or slow further violation.  Comparing this situation to another country infecting the U.S. government’s own computer system is extremely disingenuous. Iran has been sanctioned by the U.N. five times since 2006, yet continues refusing to allow weapons inspectors into its facilities and continuing its uranium enrichment program. If the U.S. repeatedly violated international sanctions and standards, then yes, other countries would be completely justified in crippling its government’s computer systems to prevent or slow further violation. 

]]> By: jhertzli http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1440445 jhertzli Sun, 03 Jun 2012 01:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1440445 ObSF: The ultrawave relay in <i>Foundation</i>. ObSF: The ultrawave relay in Foundation.

]]> By: Mordicai http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1440192 Mordicai Sat, 02 Jun 2012 13:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1440192 Hey everybody, I'd just like to point out that you are reading an electronic newspaper with a headline about governments using a computer virus to shut down a nuclear programs.  Congratulations, we're officially all cyberpunks. Hey everybody, I’d just like to point out that you are reading an electronic newspaper with a headline about governments using a computer virus to shut down a nuclear programs.  Congratulations, we’re officially all cyberpunks.

]]> By: Palomino http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1440184 Palomino Sat, 02 Jun 2012 13:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1440184 No one has ever died from a cyber virus. I like this alternative better than a troop invasion.  I can't wait for major government agencies to start handing each other secret notes on paper again. Soon, it may be against protocol to email, cyber chat,  text, twit, leave voice mails and the such. It's all going old school baby! No one has ever died from a cyber virus. I like this alternative better than a troop invasion. 

I can’t wait for major government agencies to start handing each other secret notes on paper again. Soon, it may be against protocol to email, cyber chat,  text, twit, leave voice mails and the such. It’s all going old school baby!

]]> By: Nate Cougill http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1440119 Nate Cougill Sat, 02 Jun 2012 09:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1440119 Wait a second...are you saying we launched a cyber attack against the same program that we were funding the whole time? Better than fiction, folks! http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/02/24/1068036/-Flashback-U-S-Funding-Iranian-Nuclear-Program Wait a second…are you saying we launched a cyber attack against the same program that we were funding the whole time? Better than fiction, folks! http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/02/24/1068036/-Flashback-U-S-Funding-Iranian-Nuclear-Program

]]> By: JonS http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1440060 JonS Sat, 02 Jun 2012 05:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1440060 'you' = USA There may or may not be an overlap with the personal 'you' If you need a more detailed explanation, see the second paragraph of my previous post. ‘you’ = USA
There may or may not be an overlap with the personal ‘you’

If you need a more detailed explanation, see the second paragraph of my previous post.

]]> By: kafantaris http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1440054 kafantaris Sat, 02 Jun 2012 05:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1440054 Only four countries had the technical know-how to develop the Flame virus: "Israel, the U.S., China and Russia." Since the virus was obviously intended for Iran, we can eliminate its friends China and Russia. This leaves only Israel and us. Having thoroughly demonized Iran, anything we do to it has become fair game. But there is nothing fair or right about taking another country's data. Certainly we would not want China or Russia taking our data and spreading it to 80 separate servers. As a leader of the world community aspiring for governance through universal fairness, we can no longer afford to follow the beaten path of expediency chosen by Israel.  Doing so will not only deprive us of our moral authority, but will also squander our unique opportunity to fashion a more just and fair world. Only four countries had the technical know-how to develop the Flame virus: “Israel, the U.S., China and Russia.”
Since the virus was obviously intended for Iran, we can eliminate its friends China and Russia.
This leaves only Israel and us.
Having thoroughly demonized Iran, anything we do to it has become fair game.
But there is nothing fair or right about taking another country’s data. Certainly we would not want China or Russia taking our data and spreading it to 80 separate servers.
As a leader of the world community aspiring for governance through universal fairness, we can no longer afford to follow the beaten path of expediency chosen by Israel.  Doing so will not only deprive us of our moral authority, but will also squander our unique opportunity to fashion a more just and fair world.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1440052 Antinous / Moderator Sat, 02 Jun 2012 04:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1440052 <blockquote>You voted for those fuckers.</blockquote>Your assumption has a >45% chance of being inaccurate.

You voted for those fuckers.

Your assumption has a >45% chance of being inaccurate.

]]> By: JonS http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1440044 JonS Sat, 02 Jun 2012 04:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1440044 In general, that's a fair point. However, an even fairer point is that The Govt of Country X = Country X. When the Govt of Country X behaves like international asshats, it's fair to call Country X asshats. /Especially/ when the reason for calling Country X asshats is explicitly linked to the govts actions. The vast majority of my interaction with the US is related to your govts efforts to fuck things - companies, countries, people, institutions - over on the international stage.  You voted for those fuckers. If you don't like being called an asshat, then stop fucking voting for them and their continued fuckwittery. In general, that’s a fair point.

However, an even fairer point is that The Govt of Country X = Country X. When the Govt of Country X behaves like international asshats, it’s fair to call Country X asshats. /Especially/ when the reason for calling Country X asshats is explicitly linked to the govts actions.

The vast majority of my interaction with the US is related to your govts efforts to fuck things – companies, countries, people, institutions – over on the international stage.  You voted for those fuckers. If you don’t like being called an asshat, then stop fucking voting for them and their continued fuckwittery.

]]> By: Mantissa128 http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1439875 Mantissa128 Sat, 02 Jun 2012 00:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1439875 Agreed. If Iran does develop nuclear weapons, we'll never know whether it was already going to or because of these acts of war against it. Agreed. If Iran does develop nuclear weapons, we’ll never know whether it was already going to or because of these acts of war against it.

]]> By: mr_frakypants http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1439871 mr_frakypants Sat, 02 Jun 2012 00:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1439871 I understand the distinction, and agree that the wrong moves can hurt your reputation internationally. I was specifically responding to peterblue11's comment that this was criminal, and that it was why "everyone" hates Americans. I think it probably had the desired primary effect on the governments of hostile nations: i.e. "oh shit". Of course, it has probably begun an arms-race mentality far and wide, which would be a negative secondary effect. I understand the distinction, and agree that the wrong moves can hurt your reputation internationally. I was specifically responding to peterblue11′s comment that this was criminal, and that it was why “everyone” hates Americans. I think it probably had the desired primary effect on the governments of hostile nations: i.e. “oh shit”. Of course, it has probably begun an arms-race mentality far and wide, which would be a negative secondary effect.

]]> By: ocker3 http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1439847 ocker3 Fri, 01 Jun 2012 23:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1439847  There's breaking the law, and there's breaching ethical mores. Every nation engages in some kind of clandestine spy program, but something on this scale is going to hurt America's image, a Lot.  There’s breaking the law, and there’s breaching ethical mores. Every nation engages in some kind of clandestine spy program, but something on this scale is going to hurt America’s image, a Lot.

]]> By: ocker3 http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1439843 ocker3 Fri, 01 Jun 2012 23:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1439843  I dunno, they can read brain waves and see decisions being made before a person knows they've made them. I reckon a brain is like a computer, once you've lost physical security, consider your data breached.  I dunno, they can read brain waves and see decisions being made before a person knows they’ve made them. I reckon a brain is like a computer, once you’ve lost physical security, consider your data breached.

]]> By: ocker3 http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1439845 ocker3 Fri, 01 Jun 2012 23:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1439845  Projection!  Projection!

]]> By: ocker3 http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1439839 ocker3 Fri, 01 Jun 2012 23:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1439839  I came here to say "well, Duh!", but you found a Much more interesting way of conveying the concept, kudos.  I came here to say “well, Duh!”, but you found a Much more interesting way of conveying the concept, kudos.

]]> By: tomrigid http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1439836 tomrigid Fri, 01 Jun 2012 23:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1439836 It's all fun and games until you're the one reporting to the disintegration room. It’s all fun and games until you’re the one reporting to the disintegration room.

]]> By: mr_frakypants http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1439773 mr_frakypants Fri, 01 Jun 2012 22:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1439773 Since when is action by your government against what it considers a hostile government criminal? Which police force are you going to call? Exactly which law was broken, and under what jurisdiction? Additionally, while I'm sure there are some small-minded bigots in the world who hate "americans" in general, most of the people I've met internationally feel nothing of the sort. Additionally-additionally, please point me to a government that isn't made up of charlatans and criminals. No, really. Please point me to one so I can take my family there. Since when is action by your government against what it considers a hostile government criminal? Which police force are you going to call? Exactly which law was broken, and under what jurisdiction?

Additionally, while I’m sure there are some small-minded bigots in the world who hate “americans” in general, most of the people I’ve met internationally feel nothing of the sort.

Additionally-additionally, please point me to a government that isn’t made up of charlatans and criminals. No, really. Please point me to one so I can take my family there.

]]> By: Iron Clad Burrito http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1439635 Iron Clad Burrito Fri, 01 Jun 2012 20:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1439635 Judging a whole nation based on the actions of a few?  I would NEVER do that to you.  I couldn't bring myself to find examples of the worst citizens of your country and apply that to a whole, diverse nation. Unless you're French, or Canadian.  In that case, you're a real jerk, you know that? A complete knee-biter. :gets back into spaceship and leaves Dent at his cave: Judging a whole nation based on the actions of a few?  I would NEVER do that to you.  I couldn’t bring myself to find examples of the worst citizens of your country and apply that to a whole, diverse nation.

Unless you’re French, or Canadian.  In that case, you’re a real jerk, you know that? A complete knee-biter.

:gets back into spaceship and leaves Dent at his cave:

]]> By: ackpht http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1439599 ackpht Fri, 01 Jun 2012 20:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1439599 Assumed that when news first posted. Who else would a) be concerned b) have the means, c) have the nerve? Assumed that when news first posted. Who else would a) be concerned b) have the means, c) have the nerve?

]]> By: peterblue11 http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1439538 peterblue11 Fri, 01 Jun 2012 19:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1439538 so open criminal behaviour by the US once again...and americans still wonder why everyone hates them? your government is made up of charalatans and criminals. so open criminal behaviour by the US once again…and americans still wonder why everyone hates them? your government is made up of charalatans and criminals.

]]> By: sgtdoom http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1439504 sgtdoom Fri, 01 Jun 2012 18:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1439504 http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7089/7315110298_4d6eb1c07d_z.jpg http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7089/7315110298_4d6eb1c07d_z.jpg

]]> By: Diogenes http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1439501 Diogenes Fri, 01 Jun 2012 18:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1439501 Now how could a plan like that possibly backfire?   We've got nothing to worry about! Now how could a plan like that possibly backfire?   We’ve got nothing to worry about!

]]> By: Kozmund http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1439463 Kozmund Fri, 01 Jun 2012 18:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1439463 For the tl;dr crowd, there's one thing hilarious, and one thing manipulative you can take away. The Hilarious: The US government tested a bunch of code out on shitty centrifuges nearly identical to the Iranian ones. Where did the US government get them? Why obviously from AQ Khan by way of Qadaffi. When they gave up their WMD program, they gave the US the same centrifuges that all of the AQ Khan network were getting. How funny is that? The Manipulative: In the article it's stressed repeatedly that Israel was so closely involved because they were seconds away from bombing Iran the whole time. "It totally made them feel really comfortable and in charge and stuff. Seriously, if we hadn't made Stuxnet with them, they totally would have hauled off and dropped some serious ordinance. We swear. I mean, it must have worked, as you've yet to have had bombs dropped on strategic locations, right? Right?" For the tl;dr crowd, there’s one thing hilarious, and one thing manipulative you can take away.

The Hilarious: The US government tested a bunch of code out on shitty centrifuges nearly identical to the Iranian ones. Where did the US government get them? Why obviously from AQ Khan by way of Qadaffi. When they gave up their WMD program, they gave the US the same centrifuges that all of the AQ Khan network were getting. How funny is that?

The Manipulative: In the article it’s stressed repeatedly that Israel was so closely involved because they were seconds away from bombing Iran the whole time. “It totally made them feel really comfortable and in charge and stuff. Seriously, if we hadn’t made Stuxnet with them, they totally would have hauled off and dropped some serious ordinance. We swear. I mean, it must have worked, as you’ve yet to have had bombs dropped on strategic locations, right? Right?”

]]> By: Teller http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1439439 Teller Fri, 01 Jun 2012 17:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1439439 President Will Smith and Prime Minister Jeff Goldblum strike again. President Will Smith and Prime Minister Jeff Goldblum strike again.

]]> By: Joshua Bardwell http://boingboing.net/2012/06/01/stuxnet-the-worm-targeting-ir.html#comment-1439437 Joshua Bardwell Fri, 01 Jun 2012 17:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=164168#comment-1439437 You know, it's funny. For years now, we have been hearing outcry about "cybersecurity" and "the upcoming cyber-war". It turns out the guilty dog barks loudest. The first weapons-grade cyber-attack was sent by us! You know, it’s funny. For years now, we have been hearing outcry about “cybersecurity” and “the upcoming cyber-war”. It turns out the guilty dog barks loudest. The first weapons-grade cyber-attack was sent by us!

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