First known virus to target industrial control systems

Recently, a new sophisticated virus, designated as Stuxnet, has targeted industrial control systems. Since its discovery in July, it has infected many plants which are operated with Siemens control systems. It shows an unprecedent level of sophistication, which leads to think that a well funded attacker is behind its conception. For WSAN4CIP, it shows that critical infrastructures are increasily becoming a target for hackers. Subsystems like wireless sensors will be also at risk when deployed, hence results of WSAN4CIP, such as the secure micro-kernel, will prove of value in the future.

Here are related links about the worm:

 

Siemens: Stuxnet worm hit industrial systems

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9185419/Siemens_Stuxnet_worm_hit_industrial_systems?taxonomyId=142&pageNumber=1

An indepth look into Stuxnet

http://www.virusbtn.com/conference/vb2010/abstracts/LastMinute7.xml

A detailed analysis of the worm by Symantec:

http://www.symantec.com/content/en/us/enterprise/media/security_response/whitepapers/w32_stuxnet_dossier.pdf