Almost a year after the discovery of the Stuxnet computer virus targeted at Iran’s nuclear program, this morning Reuters reports claims by an Iranian official that “Iran has been targeted by a second computer virus in a ‘cyber war’ waged by its enemies."
Even without knowing the specific details of this attack, there are still some things we can consider. First there is the damage it can cause on its own. Even if its limited, the new virus is bound to increase suspicion and paranoia amongst Iranian decision makers, especially those involved with the nuclear program.
The new attack could increase the voice of those who want all of the nuclear program’s computer system to be replaced as means of eradicating the presence of the virus completely. While this may be a viable solution, at the same time it could bring more delays for Iran’s already troubled and delayed nuclear program.
And if the system has already been replaced, then this is a clear sign that Iran is still susceptible to cyber attacks, against which it can do very little.
The cyber attacks do not only represent the ability of the attackers, they are also a clear sign of the success of the sanctions imposed against Iran. These have made it very difficult for Iran to acquire up to date technological equipment in the open market. This difficulty has slowed down the nuclear program, while making it more vulnerable.
When it comes to looking for blame, as well as suspecting outsiders, Iran’s nuclear scientists are also likely to point towards their country’s leadership, whose antagonistic behavior towards the international community has made their job far more difficult than it should be.
