Stuxnet is the new virus causing nightmares to industrial system controllers all over the world. The malicious computer software, which is rumored to have been aimed at Iran’s nuclear plants, currently, represents the most harmful cyber threat known to industries due to their tendency to merge networks and computer systems to improve efficiency.

The virus is in the form of a complex formula, which is able to infiltrate and take over systems that direct the working of manufacturing and other crucial operations. In addition, it has the ability to silently steal sensitive intellectual property data.

Analysts and government officials told the Senate Homeland Committee and Governmental Affairs that the threat was beyond any seen before and that their attempts to identify the person who had launched the attack had not borne any fruit as yet. The design and performance of the software have led to speculations that it was targeted at Iranian nuclear facilities.

Sixty percent of the 44,000 worldwide infections by the virus have affected Iranian computers, including several in the Bushehr nuclear plant. Iran claims that the virus is a plot by Western countries to sabotage its nuclear program. There are however, minimal signs of damage at the Iranian nuclear facilities.

On Wednesday, a senior government official warned of the possibility that attackers could develop variations of the virus using the information that is made public about Stuxnet and target other crucial industries.

Image Credit: