Thursday, June 21, 2012

Good Links


Welcome to the Dark Ages byJohn Atcheson http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/06/18-2

[Excerpted] "...Now, we seek to operate by revealed truths, not reality.  Decrees from on high – often issued by an unholy alliance of religious fundamentalists, self-interested corporations, and greedy fat cats – are offered up as reality by rightwing politicians...."

Common Dreams US, Israel behind Flame Virus Cyber-Attack on Iran, US Officials Confirm - Common Dreams staff June 20 http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/06/20-3

[excerpted] "Flame Virus part of larger, sustained campaign of cyber-sabotage
 
Officials have now confirmed that the US and Israel worked together to develop the Flame computer virus that collected Iranian intelligence as part of a larger cyber attack on Iran, the Washington Post reported Tuesday. The virus, which is designed to covertly control everyday computer functions and send secrets back to its creators, was discovered by Iranian officials last month....

...Two leading computer security firms - Kaspersky Lab and Symantec Corp - have confirmed that the software code in the Flame virus matches an earlier detected virus, Stuxnet, which was widely believed to have been used by the United States and Israel to cause Iran's nuclear program to malfunction.

"This is about preparing the battlefield for another type of covert action,” said one of the sources, reported to be a high-ranking U.S. intelligence official. The official told that the Flame and Stuxnet viruses were part of a larger cyber attack that continues today, the Post reported...."


Washington Post: U.S., Israel developed Flame computer virus to slow Iranian nuclear efforts, officials say By Ellen Nakashima, Greg Miller and Julie Tate, Published: June 19 The Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-israel-developed-computer-virus-to-slow-iranian-nuclear-efforts-officials-say/2012/06/19/gJQA6xBPoV_story.html

[excerpted] The United States and Israel jointly developed a sophisticated computer virus nicknamed Flame that collected intelligence in preparation for cyber-sabotage aimed at slowing Iran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon, according to Western officials with knowledge of the effort.
The effort, involving the National Security Agency, the CIA and Israel’s military, has included the use of destructive software such as the Stuxnet virus to cause malfunctions in Iran’s nuclear-enrichment equipment....

The virus is among the most sophisticated and subversive pieces of malware to be exposed to date. Experts said the program was designed to replicate across even highly secure networks, then control everyday computer functions to send secrets back to its creators. The code could activate computer microphones and cameras, log keyboard strokes, take screen shots, extract geo­location data from images, and send and receive commands and data through Bluetooth wireless technology.

Flame was developed at least five years ago as part of a classified effort code-named Olympic Games





No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.