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Stuxnet Capable of Leading to Chernobyl-like Catastrophe Inside Iran, Cautions Report

The PC worm Stuxnet, which was released in 2010, has penetrated the Bushehr nuclear plant control systems in Iran, states one overseas intelligence report which simultaneously alerts that a probable catastrophe similar to the Chernobyl event can happen when the Iranian nuclear plant becomes wholly functional. Associated Press reported this on January 31, 2011.

It may be recalled that Ukraine-situated Chernobyl's reactor 4 blasted during 1986 producing toxic radiation extensively across Northern Europe. Consequently, innumerable people were moved out of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, the areas that were contaminated, to new settlements.

The report that Russia has drawn from close-watching over the Iranian nuclear scheme puts down that owing to the worm, which has disabled the control systems, it may be that the reactor becomes forceful enough to somewhat make a nuclear explosion.

As per the report, the least destruction could be the reactor's meltdown although massive environmental damage too may happen just like the Chernobyl catastrophe.

Indeed, it isn't just that a Chernobyl-like scenario alone will take place. As per specialists, the strongest cyber-weapon of the globe may've been basically created for striking the nuclear scheme of Iran; however, it was as well capable of getting manipulated for bringing down a disastrous destruction on any industrialized country like the USA.

Meanwhile, Iran has refuted the notion that the Stuxnet is harming the Bushehr plant although acknowledged that the worm has indeed infiltrated workers' laptops.

Contrarily, Russia's envoy to North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Dmitry Rogozin is understood to have stated that albeit the systems of the workers at Bushehr appeared to function normally, they were actually getting uncontrollable gradually. Rawstory.com published this on January 31, 2011.

Importantly, specialists caution that the Stuxnet can affect much beyond merely nuclear centrifuges. From power and water facilities to automobile makers, industries globally too can be harmed lest the worm starts to cause uncontrolled operation of their equipments.

Stated Director Dean Turner of the Global Intelligence Network of Symantec while addressing the US Senate in 2010, the Stuxnet could cause real-world implications in far more excess than any threat observed hitherto, as reported on January 31, 2011.

Related article: Stuxnet malware Signed With JMicron Certificate

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