Dirty Deeds: Iranian nuclear program hit by 'AC/DC virus'?

Published time: July 24, 2012 11:48
Edited time: July 24, 2012 19:52
AFP Photo / Joel Saget

Iranian nuclear facilities have reportedly been attacked by a “music” virus, turning on lab PCs at night and blasting AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck.”

Mikko Hypponen, Chief Researcher at Finnish digital security firm F-secure, publicly released a letter he received from an unnamed Iranian scientist. The researcher, who claimed to work for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), said that another virus has struck the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in central Iran and a secret underground research facility at Fordo, southwest of Tehran.

The letter’s author reported that the virus shut down equipment (made by Germany’s Siemens Corporation) and automated systems at both research centers.

Hypponen published the letter on his blog, but cautioned that there is no way for him to verify the accusations. He was able to confirm, however, that the letter did originate from the AEOI’s servers.

The letter, which was reportedly sent to various cybersecurity experts, said that Metasploit’s Penetration Testing Software had been used to direct this new attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

The scientist stressed that he is not a cybersecurity specialist, and does not have detailed information on the virus.

“There was also some music playing randomly on several of the workstations during the middle of the night with the volume maxed out. I believe it was playing ‘Thunderstruck’ by AC/DC,” the scientist wrote.

If true, this attack is the third hacking attempt aimed at Tehran’s controversial nuclear program. In 2010, the state-of-the-art Stuxnet virus set Iran’s nuclear ambitions back by at least two years.

In May 2012, experts at Russia’s Kaspersky Laboratories exposed another Trojan virus called Flame, which was designed to spy on web activity in Iran and some Middle Eastern countries. Russian cybersecurity experts labeled Flame “probably the most complicated virus ever.”

Iran claimed to have found a way to neutralize Flame.

Comments (41)

AmericanInRomania (unregistered) 07.08.2012 17:57

Say what you like, but that is a pretty cool computer trick.   I do wonder if the scientists jammed out and got a laugh at it.   It must have been some sight to see.

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Joe Friday (unregistered) 26.07.2012 21:10

debra (unregistered) wrote in #9Why not let them have what they need. America sells more war toys in the world and has used more weapons on more countries than any body else. Iran has not made war on any country so far. Who the hell are we to say what they can and can not have ? We are the greatest terrorist on the earth. We bomb and kill and rape countries for resources and leave the people in piles and we got nukes. At least Iran dont have to do that to get what they want. It's irony  that we are about to face lossing our rights to own guns and they want to police the whole world. Let Iran do as they see fit. At least they are not responcible for millions of deaths in the middle east. We are the bullies in the middle east. The terrorist is USA.Debra, when you say that Iran has not made war on anyone, that is a lie.  Iran has been at war for decades via their proxy Hizbollah.  Iran is the single greatest state sponsor of terrorism.  Iran was one of the main sources of EFPs used by terrorists in Iraq.  Just the other day Hizbollah pulled off another terrorist bombing killing 5 people (but your probably don't care because they were Jews that got killed.) When you say "at least they are not responsible for millions of deaths in the middle east", who are you accusing?   Do you not know that the Mullahs sent about 1 million untrained soldiers to die in mass wave attacks during the Iran-Iraq war in the 80's precisely because they purged their modern military after deposing the Shah?  Do you not know what the Mullahs did to their OWN people after the recent mass protests?  They imprisoned and systematically raped and executed many protesters.  Debra , your village is calling.  They want their idiot back.

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Joe Friday (unregistered) 26.07.2012 20:59

I'm impressed that the Iranian scientist even knew the song "Thunderstruck".  Maybe he went to college in the US.  As for JJ complaining about the choice of music, you are pretty lame to suggest "Friday on my mind" would be a better theme song for a cyber-attack.  Thunderstruck is very apropro.

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