#Iran #oil industry hit by #cyber-attacks
Apr. 24th, 2012 12:32 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
maxomaiSomeone really doesn't like Iranian industry.
This isn't the first time that a virus has been used to sabotage Iranian facilities: Stuxnet is infamous for infecting and severely compromising uranium enrichment in 2010. This is the first time that the target has been unquestionably economic. Shutting down Iranian oil production would bring the Iranian economy to a halt, and probably lead to the ouster of the Iranian government. It might also spark a worldwide economic crisis as oil prices spike, not to mention change the directions of American, European, and MENA politics during some rather delicate times. (Remember: the conventional wisdom is that Obama's chances of re-election are tied to the health of the American economy.)
I have my suspicions as to who was behind this attack. FYI, for the reasons stated above, I'm thinking it's not the US government. Despite some recent rather spectacular failures, they rather like the Pax Americana. Nope, I'm thinking the actor behind this attack is someone who sees Iran as an existential threat, such that chaos in the world economy is a small price to pay. Draw your conclusions from there.
"Iran disconnected computer systems at a number of its oil facilities in response to a cyber attack that hit multiple industry targets during the weekend. A source at the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) reportedly told Reuters that a virus was detected inside the control systems of Kharg Island oil terminal, which handles the majority of Iran's crude oil exports. In addition, computer systems at Iran's Oil Ministry and its national oil company were hit."
This isn't the first time that a virus has been used to sabotage Iranian facilities: Stuxnet is infamous for infecting and severely compromising uranium enrichment in 2010. This is the first time that the target has been unquestionably economic. Shutting down Iranian oil production would bring the Iranian economy to a halt, and probably lead to the ouster of the Iranian government. It might also spark a worldwide economic crisis as oil prices spike, not to mention change the directions of American, European, and MENA politics during some rather delicate times. (Remember: the conventional wisdom is that Obama's chances of re-election are tied to the health of the American economy.)
I have my suspicions as to who was behind this attack. FYI, for the reasons stated above, I'm thinking it's not the US government. Despite some recent rather spectacular failures, they rather like the Pax Americana. Nope, I'm thinking the actor behind this attack is someone who sees Iran as an existential threat, such that chaos in the world economy is a small price to pay. Draw your conclusions from there.
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no subject
Date: 2012-04-24 07:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-24 07:47 am (UTC)It's also possible that someone could have organized this attack simply for economic benefit. If you know ahead of time that the oil market is going to go berzerk, and have the money to place the right bets, you can make just an obscene volume of money. Putting the GOP in power and making the Bush tax cuts permanent would be icing on the cake. But my first bet is a government.