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Stuxnet - The First Digital Weapon


                    Stuxnet is a file type worm which exploits zero-day vulnerabilities to attack computers. This is considered as the very first digital weapon that not only harms to computers but also the physical aspects which run by computer commands. It especially targets on centrifuges which produce enrich uranium to make nuclear weapons. It was first found as a result of US and Israel project to derail or delay Iran’s process of nuclear weapon manufacture.



How does it infect?
               The worm is spread by USB drives and it harms to the machine which runs on Microsoft Windows platform. It pretends to seem like reliable by presenting a digital certification and it cannot be identified by a malware detecting tools or security experts. Stuxnet search for the PLC (Programmable logical controller) which is the manufacture of the Siemens. PLC is used to make industrial machine controlled by interact with the computers.


What it does?
               It compromises with PLC and collects all the information regarding the functionality of the machine. And then starts to spin the machine too fast more than usual for too long. Unless the problem is discovered, PLC shows that everything runs perfectly. Consequently, the Long process of overproduction is caused to machine damage and lower quality product.


What if it does not find PLC?
               If it is not targeting a machine or cannot search for PLC, the worm does not do anything. If it can access the Internet, it will update itself to its most recent version.

Even though it was found as spread through USB it can be spread via the Internet when some modification is done in exploit code.

"Cyber War is the battle field of now" - Geoff Livingston
              

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