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US and Israel tied to Flame attack by Washington Post | US and Israel tied to Flame attack by Washington Post |
(1 day later) | |
Accusations the US and Israel jointly created the computer virus Flame have been printed by the Washington Post newspaper. | Accusations the US and Israel jointly created the computer virus Flame have been printed by the Washington Post newspaper. |
It quoted unnamed "Western officials with knowledge of the effort" href="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" >as its sources. | |
The powerful malware was discovered after the UN noticed data disappearing from PCs in the Middle East. | The powerful malware was discovered after the UN noticed data disappearing from PCs in the Middle East. |
The Post said the US National Security Agency, the CIA and Israel's military had collaborated on the project. | The Post said the US National Security Agency, the CIA and Israel's military had collaborated on the project. |
It had "intended to slow Iran's nuclear program, reduce the pressure for a conventional military attack and extend the timetable for diplomacy and sanctions", the newspaper said. | It had "intended to slow Iran's nuclear program, reduce the pressure for a conventional military attack and extend the timetable for diplomacy and sanctions", the newspaper said. |
Reuters subsequently reported that current and former Western national security officials had told the news agency the US had been involved in making the virus. | Reuters subsequently reported that current and former Western national security officials had told the news agency the US had been involved in making the virus. |
The BBC has been unable to confirm or disprove the allegations. | The BBC has been unable to confirm or disprove the allegations. |
Flame is thought to have been first noticed when Iran's servers were taken offline in April following a malware attack on key oil terminals. | Flame is thought to have been first noticed when Iran's servers were taken offline in April following a malware attack on key oil terminals. |
Covert action | Covert action |
A later report by anti-virus company Kaspersky Labs said there had been 189 attacks in Iran, 98 in Israel and Palestine, and 32 in Sudan. | A later report by anti-virus company Kaspersky Labs said there had been 189 attacks in Iran, 98 in Israel and Palestine, and 32 in Sudan. |
A "former high-ranking US intelligence official", who it said had spoken on the condition of anonymity, told the Washington Post: "[Flame] is about preparing the battlefield for another type of covert action. | A "former high-ranking US intelligence official", who it said had spoken on the condition of anonymity, told the Washington Post: "[Flame] is about preparing the battlefield for another type of covert action. |
"Cyber-collection against the Iranian programme is way further down the road than this." | "Cyber-collection against the Iranian programme is way further down the road than this." |
Iran has said it is now able to defend itself against the malware and clean up infected PCs . | Iran has said it is now able to defend itself against the malware and clean up infected PCs . |
Under siege | Under siege |
But the attacks could lead the country to develop its own sophisticated cyber-capabilities, Mark Phillips, a research fellow at defence think tank the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), told BBC News. | But the attacks could lead the country to develop its own sophisticated cyber-capabilities, Mark Phillips, a research fellow at defence think tank the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), told BBC News. |
"If it did originate from the US and/or Israel, Iran is going to feel under siege as a result of a number of attempts - a previous one was Stuxnet - and will seek to improve its cyber-defences," he said. | "If it did originate from the US and/or Israel, Iran is going to feel under siege as a result of a number of attempts - a previous one was Stuxnet - and will seek to improve its cyber-defences," he said. |
"The better you are at detecting cyber-actions, the better you are at infiltrating others. | "The better you are at detecting cyber-actions, the better you are at infiltrating others. |
"This cyber-onslaught that Iran has been facing from Stuxnet through to Flame is actually helping it to become a really serious cyber-power in its own right, which would not have been an intended effect of whoever developed Flame." | "This cyber-onslaught that Iran has been facing from Stuxnet through to Flame is actually helping it to become a really serious cyber-power in its own right, which would not have been an intended effect of whoever developed Flame." |
Nation-state involvement | Nation-state involvement |
Security experts call Flame one of the most complex threats ever seen, suggesting a nation state rather than individual hackers are likely to have been behind its development. | Security experts call Flame one of the most complex threats ever seen, suggesting a nation state rather than individual hackers are likely to have been behind its development. |
"The reason [sources] may want to stay anonymous is because of the sensitive nature of technologies and capabilities involved," said Mr Phillips. | "The reason [sources] may want to stay anonymous is because of the sensitive nature of technologies and capabilities involved," said Mr Phillips. |
"We're probably stuck with a situation where we'll only have this speculation for a foreseeable future." | "We're probably stuck with a situation where we'll only have this speculation for a foreseeable future." |
The Israeli embassy in London declined to comment. | The Israeli embassy in London declined to comment. |
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