Flame virus creates havoc: Iran blames Israel and West for the most complex, devastating computer virus ever

By Syed Akbar


Facts About Flame Virus


1. Flame virus uses keyloggers and screenshot to transmit data to the hacker.

2. It could create cyber catastrophe if it hits a large nation like India.

3. It is the king of espionage and steals all the data from computer
including the songs played, words exchanged in chat, and the pixs
stored in hard disk.

4. The virus can steal crucial nuclear, space, scientific and
government information within no time and passes it on to the hacker.

5. International Telecommunications Union issues the “most serious
warning” to all nations

6. Most complex, sophisticated and complete data spy tool, 20 times
more powerful than the existing one

7. The virus is master-controlled by 80 remotely accessed computers
maintained by the virus creators

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A major computer virus is now threatening the cyber
security and crucial installations of several nations. Called the
Flame Virus, it could spy everything one does on a computer, sitting
within the confines of office or home, including the film songs one
listens to, the crucial data stored on the hard disk and the chat
between friends.

The virus is also capable of stealing vital information from
governments and scientific institutions, throwing up a major cyber
security challenge. It is the most complex of all computer viruses
created so far and thus quite difficult to decode and fight back. The
virus has been hailed as the king of espionage with capabilities to
secretly record conversations.

Flame virus has affected hundreds of computers within a day of its
discovery, in the Arab world, with the prime target being Iran.
Incidentally, Iran was the target of similar attack two years ago,
when its nuclear system was hacked.

According to cyber security expert, MH Noble, the Flame virus uses
keyloggers and screenshots, which means everything done on a computer
is transmitted to the hacker.

If the virus hits India, it could result in a major cyber catastrophe.
India is fast joining exclusive clubs of nations in nuclear
technology, information and communication technology and space
technology and remote sensing. However, Flame virus is not of
immediate concern for Indian Intelligence, nuclear and scientific
bodies as the security system is foolproof.

Cyber security experts allege that Flame virus could be the handiwork of some
software security solutions company, which want to market its new
anti-virus product. The prime target seems to be developing countries,
where internet security is often
compromised. There are however, no reports of the flame virus infection so
far in India. Luckily, India has escaped similar major attacks in the past.

It is the third cyber attack weapon targeting systems in the Middle
East to be exposed in recent years. Iran has alleged that the West and
Israel are orchestrating a secret war of sabotage using yber warfare
and targeted assassinations of its
scientists as part of the dispute over its nuclear programme.
Stuxnet attacked Iran's nuclear programme in 2010, while a related
programme, Duqu, named after the Star Wars villain, stole data.