Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Cloud
    • Cloud
    • Cybersecurity
    • Networking

    Stuxnet Includes Expiration Date to Halt Spread of Malware

    By
    eweekdev
    -
    June 25, 2012
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      By: Robert Lemos

      Stuxnet is many things: A cyber-weapon, a nation-state attack on Iran’s nuclear processing capability, and a computer virus. On Sunday, however, the program ceased its run as a slowly spreading virus.

      On Monday, researchers at Kaspersky Labs identified an expiration date-June 24, 2012-within the Stuxnet’s code that halted the program from propagating via USB memory sticks. While Stuxnet is not dead, the program has outlived its useful life, says Roel Schouwenberg, senior researcher with Kaspersky.

      “The authors decided that this was the end date of the mission,” says Schouwenberg.

      Stuxnet is the youngest of the three programs identified by security researchers as potential nation-state attempts to create digital weapons to use against rivals. The recently discovered Flame malware appears to be the oldest program, first released perhaps five years ago. While researchers are still analyzing the program’s modules, the attack’s main goal is stealing information and espionage. Similarly, Duqu, a program released after Flame, also aims to steal information.

      Unlike Flame and Duqu, Stuxnet was created to spread on its own so it could infiltrate sensitive networks not usually connected to the Internet.

      “Remember here, unlike with Duqu and Flame, Stuxnet was autonomous,” Schouwenberg says. “The authors, with Stuxnet, were more aggressive.”

      While many security experts theorized that Stuxnet was the work of the United States and Israel, the evidence supporting the assertion was almost entirely circumstantial. In a recent book, however, David Sanger of The New York Times reported that sources at the White House had confirmed that Stuxnet was the work of the two countries.

      The authors of Stuxnet released the attack in three waves. On June 23, 2009, the program was seeded in certain systems, with two more waves on June 28 and July 7, 2009, according to a Kaspersky Labs analysis. Stuxnet infected Windows systems and, on computers running specific control software from Siemens, infected the control programs for certain industrial equipment, most notably the centrifuges used to refine uranium.

      eweekdev
      http://www.eweek.com

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×