‘AC/DC’ Virus Hits Iranian Nuclear Plants
27th July 2012
A Web site monitoring spyware said statements from Iran suggest nuclear plants were hit by a virus causing computers to play music from rock band AC/DC.
27th July 2012
A Web site monitoring spyware said statements from Iran suggest nuclear plants were hit by a virus causing computers to play music from rock band AC/DC.
July 27th, 2012 at 10:15
It’s obviously a comic image, but, seriously, how is this not an act of war? I guarantee that the US would consider this (and particularly the STUXNET tailored virus that has damaged centrifuges) to be an act of war if it were directed at comparable US facilities.
July 27th, 2012 at 11:01
On one hand, this seems like a really stupid thing to do and will probably cause some sort of very bad retaliation.
On the other hand, how cool is it that they sent the Iranians AC/DC? A metal band that uses bagpipes! That had to really piss off Tehran!!
July 27th, 2012 at 15:18
“It’s obviously a comic image, but, seriously, how is this not an act of war? I guarantee that the US would consider this (and particularly the STUXNET tailored virus that has damaged centrifuges) to be an act of war if it were directed at comparable US facilities.”
I didn’t see anything in the article that said where the virus came from. Seems the perfect way to have your cake and eat it too if this is a US or Israeli scheme. No provable connection but continued thwarting of Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Almost as effective as an airstrike and not nearly as consequential.
July 27th, 2012 at 15:29
OK up to speed on Stuxnet.
Even with confidence that it was US, they are pretty familiar with our military capabilities having just been schooled in them next door. Seems a pretty wise choice to curse into your hat and keep appearance up. Why give us the green light for an airstrike.
You are right. We would under normal circumstances consider this an act of war if it was done to us and were public. Who knows, maybe it has been done to us. Maybe we have taught them the “curse into your hat” response to not give any helpful feedback to the perpetrators.
July 27th, 2012 at 15:48
Whitehawk,
My problem with it is that this is the way that the elite in the US dragoons the rest into wars. Take lots of actions that are never examined critically enough by the population to realize that they are essentially acts of war, then act all outraged when they retaliate and proceed to wave the bloody shirt. The US oil embargo against Japan back in WWII is another example of the same pattern. Manipulate the other side into striking first to unite the US public behind the war that you want to get involved in but which they’re not too keen on.
July 28th, 2012 at 10:53
“My problem with it is that this is the way that the elite in the US dragoons the rest into wars. Take lots of actions that are never examined critically enough by the population to realize that they are essentially acts of war, then act all outraged when they retaliate and proceed to wave the bloody shirt.”
I see your point but the 800 lb gorilla is still in the room; Iran with nuclear capabilities. It’s no secret that I’m not a fan of the Obama Admin. but if they did nothing to stop a nuclear Iran they would have the population come down on them for not examining critically the consequences. IMHO the stakes are too high in this case to do nothing. The “bloody shirt” would be a radioactive cloud over eastern US. I fear that sabotaging equipment may not be enough.
“then act all outraged when they retaliate” I think it’s essential to consider the difference between a “traditional terrorist retaliation” and a nuclear one. If we are successful, and don’t get me wrong I know we can do what it takes to stop them (but will we), there can’t be a nuclear option for a terrorist state that has sworn to kill us and remove Israel from the map.
July 28th, 2012 at 11:40
Whitehawk,
If you consider the threat of Iran existential should it gain nuclear weapons, then advocate openly for preventative war against it on those grounds. Personally, I’m of the opinion that the US should do a lot less in that region and allow regional powers like Israel to more freely pursue their interests, as they’re the main ones with skin in the game.
July 29th, 2012 at 20:56
“If you consider the threat of Iran existential should it gain nuclear weapons, then advocate openly for preventative war against it on those grounds.”
Consider me and advocate. Until this happens though, I will support EVERY other means possible to see that my children never share a nuclear experience with the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.