Computer Virus Plays ‘Thunderstruck’ at Iranian Nuclear Facilities

Getting a virus on your computer is a royal pain. There’s the question of whether or not you’ll lose information, if your equipment will run properly, and if you’ve infected others inadvertently among other things. It’s not often that a virus comes around and plays music for you, however. At an Iranian Nuclear Facility, that’s exactly what’s happening. AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” has been blasting on computers as a the result of a computer worm.

Mikko Hypponen is the lead researcher at the computer security firm F-Secure, and he blogged this past weekend about emails he’s received. One of those emails stated:

I am writing you to inform you that our nuclear program has once again been compromised and attacked by a new worm with exploits which have shut down our automation network at Natanz and another facility Fordo near Qom.

According to the email our cyber experts sent to our teams, they believe a hacker tool Metasploit was used. The hackers had access to our VPN. The automation network and Siemens hardware were attacked and shut down. I only know very little about these cyber issues as I am scientist not a computer expert.

There was also some music playing randomly on several of the workstations during the middle of the night with the volume maxed out. I believe it was playing 'Thunderstruck' by AC/DC.

It’s unclear as to whether or not they were able to turn the volume down or if they’ve cleaned up the virus, but having music blasting from computer speakers in the middle of the night is enough to make anyone batty. I just hope that if my computer gets that virus that it’s a different song. I can only take listening to “Thunderstruck” so many times in a row.

That begs the question: Are those behind the virus fans of AC/DC, leading them to select this song? Or do they really despise the band and feel it's a terrible song to have to listen to, therefore selecting it as a form of torture?

If the scientists at the facility are looking to calm their nerves, there is a solution. AC/DC has a line of wines that I hear are actually pretty good. Maybe it’s time to send them a few bottles?

[Gawker]