Sandworm Malicious Software 191108

      My post on cyber war has come true with the advent of Sandworm; this malicious software tool was already operating when I wrote my post, though I was not aware of it then.

      Sandworm attacks nearly all Windows operating systems. So far it has been used to attack NATO, European countries and the government of Ukraine. Snadworm can also shut down electrical grids. It also shut down Maersk shipping line (one of the world's largest) and when those ships pulled into New York they could not be unloaded because without the computers working no one knew what was in the shipping containers. Symantec states there is help already available for windows. If your windows computer has all the necessary security updates downloaded you should be protected. It is still up to you to avoid clicking on links you do not recognize and emails that you don't know where they came from. Be careful or be sorry.



      It is believed that this malware could be used to shut down the electrical grid in parts of or all of the electric systems in the United States. Nuclear weapons may not be necessary in the cyber war. When our banks and electrical grids shut down you will know the war has begun.

      The first known cyber attack came when Stuxnet was released in Iran during 2010 and the virus destroyed the centrifuges being used to create nuclear materials. That virus spread across Europe and the United States. This is the most dangerous thing with self-replicating viruses and malware, once released they can spread everywhere and be totally out of control. New malware could be set up so once the initial problem is solved another could be released. Before long we could be going back to the abacus to conduct business.

Copyright Bill Weber 2006-2019 and beyond.