Stuxnet: The Cyber Weapon That Destroyed Iran's Nuclear Program

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  • Опубліковано 18 чер 2024
  • Delve into the shadowy world of international espionage with Warographics as we uncover the gripping tale of STUXNET. From its covert inception in 2007 to its explosive revelation and the unsolvable mysteries it left behind.
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 1,3 тис.

  • @disgruntledtoons
    @disgruntledtoons Місяць тому +559

    One thing that was touched on really needs emphasis: The Iranian nuclear program managers had wisely adopted one of the most effective defenses against cyberattack: Their systems were not connected to the Internet, and it required what is effectively inside assistance to even begin to attack that system. Whenever I read about a security breach of any system, my first question is always, "Why was this connected to the Internet at all?" Many compromised systems did not require Internet connectivity in order to accomplish their official purposes.

    • @pitchforkpeasant6219
      @pitchforkpeasant6219 Місяць тому +18

      For some things governments (politicians) require things to be connected to the internet so they have access to all the information. And they call the people paranoid🤦

    • @n0tepad
      @n0tepad Місяць тому

      What I don't understand is how this story went from "airgap" to "stuxnet reported back its findings" and "it infected other machines on the internet"
      HUH???

    • @Visiopod
      @Visiopod Місяць тому

      @@pitchforkpeasant6219 You don't need the internet to gain access to all information. Just a data center with no internet connection and a code scanner that only works with the fingerprints of the politicians in office. They could even have this data center in the parliament and having touch screens linked up to it in every meeting room, without ever requiring the internet. You can also set up a LAN that isn't connected to the internet, if you want to make short range wireless connection true. LAN is just Local Area Network and can totally be done without using the World Wide Web aka the internet. Whenever you don't have an internet connection, you usually do have a LAN connection, meaning you should have access to your LAN, just not the WWW, so if you have a local NAS, you can still connect to that. You just cant connect to anything outside your home, as you only have a LAN connection and not a WWW connection.

    • @flagmichael
      @flagmichael 29 днів тому +39

      @@pitchforkpeasant6219 That could hardly be more wrong. FERC rules in the USA require they NOT be connected to the world outside the Physically Secure Perimeter except through a very tightly managed manual interface controlled by vetted staff. Serious fines (hundreds of thousands for individuals, tens of millions for companies that are lax) and prison time for individuals awaits those who violate CIP rules.
      When I worked in bulk electric power we had nearly an entire day of CIP training and testing every year.

    • @Snaproll47518
      @Snaproll47518 29 днів тому +10

      Air-gapped computers can fall victim to hacking through sophisticated techniques that leverage physical access, electromagnetic signals, and even sound waves.

  • @CubensisEnjoyer
    @CubensisEnjoyer Місяць тому +774

    Been studying cybersecurity for several years and working as a Security Analyst some of that time as well, so I'm all too familiar with Stuxnet, but I will never get tired of hearing this story. Stuxnet was truly a monumental achievement (for someone at least) and a total game changer in terms of how offensive cyber operations were viewed. One of my favorite case studies that I constantly return to in my career, I still gain new insights every time I do so. Happy to say that Warographics did the story justice! And the crazy part is this video is just the tip of the "Stuxnet lore" iceberg.🤯

    • @goosenotmaverick1156
      @goosenotmaverick1156 Місяць тому +25

      Have you heard the podcast from Jack Rhysider called "Darknet Diaries"?
      I assume you likely have, but that's a good one on it too if you haven't had a listen. (Good podcast in general too, IMO)

    • @CubensisEnjoyer
      @CubensisEnjoyer Місяць тому

      @@goosenotmaverick1156 That was pretty much the spark for why I got into cybersecurity, Stuxnet was the first episode I listened to after the Silk Road ones. After that it was set in stone. I owe a lot to Jack Rhysider for giving us Darknet Diaries 🙂

    • @motianton
      @motianton Місяць тому

      Hes a topguy, thanks for reminding me abt him ​@@goosenotmaverick1156

    • @mastpg
      @mastpg Місяць тому +14

      You misspelled "Israeli counter intelligence in conjunction with a joint NSA-CIA team".

    • @jeebusk
      @jeebusk Місяць тому

      only one joint?
      ​@@mastpg

  • @jasonjacoby
    @jasonjacoby Місяць тому +747

    The virus didn't just require a USB stick, it could embed itself on devices that used the USB port. Seriously one of the smartest weapons I've ever seen.

    • @theredboneking
      @theredboneking Місяць тому +5

      Used on the Fukushima nuclear plant as well.

    • @freedombro6502
      @freedombro6502 Місяць тому +54

      ​@@theredbonekingsource ? 🤔

    • @theredboneking
      @theredboneking Місяць тому +4

      @@freedombro6502 FUKUSHIMA: 10 reasons our planet is doomed (2018)

    • @theredboneking
      @theredboneking Місяць тому

      @@freedombro6502 #8

    • @theredboneking
      @theredboneking Місяць тому +1

      Number eight on the list.

  • @mikeyhendri
    @mikeyhendri Місяць тому +180

    For the ones asking. Stuxnet dit copy itself on usb drives. Once the plc are updated, the virus send files to the drive, and if that drive is connected to a computer that is connected to the internet it sends data back. No plant is compledley airgapped. Just the most importand machines

    • @hgv1883
      @hgv1883 Місяць тому +4

      A very reasonable explanation thanks 👍🍻

    • @sebastianbenner977
      @sebastianbenner977 Місяць тому +7

      But why airgap anything at all, if that machine is connected to a device which isn't airgapped?

    • @fofopads4450
      @fofopads4450 Місяць тому +7

      @@sebastianbenner977 because is a flawed air gap system

    • @LuLeBe
      @LuLeBe Місяць тому +6

      @@sebastianbenner977it wouldn’t be directly connected to it, but a thumb drive for example would eventually need to be used to install a software update or transfer some data.

    • @robertroy1878
      @robertroy1878 Місяць тому +2

      You answered my question before I could ask it.

  • @Calebgoblin
    @Calebgoblin Місяць тому +113

    I remember being told about this as a cautionary tale of the dangers of picking up random USB sticks

    • @sketch6995
      @sketch6995 Місяць тому

      I found one in a parking lot a few days ago.....I sandboxxed the hell out of it and found......porn

    • @jimjackson4256
      @jimjackson4256 26 днів тому +5

      What? i pickup random usb sticks all the time and stick them into all my computers.

    • @devalue7064
      @devalue7064 25 днів тому

      Unless you are working with classified information, chances of getting virus from a USB stick would be the same as getting it from the internet

    • @williamstidham7704
      @williamstidham7704 20 днів тому

      @jimjackson4256
      Same. Never know, might be a crypto wallet on there with millions, or perhaps some zesty nudie pics.

    • @sibusisondlovu9516
      @sibusisondlovu9516 8 днів тому +2

      @@jimjackson4256 Oops!

  • @SirSpenace
    @SirSpenace Місяць тому +183

    I learned about Stuxnet back in 2011 when I was taking a Cybercrimes course in Ireland. I remember being blown away by how smart of a program it was.

    • @jochn919
      @jochn919 Місяць тому +3

      In 2011 that's when Israelis used Stuxnet on Fukushima plant.

    • @windowsill9724
      @windowsill9724 Місяць тому

      @@jochn919no

    • @hammerr
      @hammerr Місяць тому +1

      Took less than 20 people too

    • @Frost640
      @Frost640 Місяць тому +30

      @@jochn919 Did you miss the part of history when a god damn earthquake and tsunami hit Japan?

    • @patrickbrinkmeier1858
      @patrickbrinkmeier1858 Місяць тому +19

      @@Frost640 ...He doesn't care about facts or the truth...Just a typical troll.

  • @LeviThomass
    @LeviThomass Місяць тому +255

    As a computer science student, this stuff is fascinating to me. I found a video about Stuxnet recently and had been wanting a video from you breaking it down ever since!

    • @CheekyMenace
      @CheekyMenace Місяць тому +6

      Watch, Zero Days.

    • @jackbuff_I
      @jackbuff_I Місяць тому

      Yeah course you did

    • @LeviThomass
      @LeviThomass Місяць тому +1

      @@jackbuff_Iwhat’s that supposed to mean?

    • @d4Rk42
      @d4Rk42 19 днів тому

      Read or listen to "Countdown to Zero Day" (audio)book 😊

    • @mikemichaelson120
      @mikemichaelson120 16 днів тому

      He gets a lot of stuff small stuff wrong in this video

  • @4-Methylaminorex
    @4-Methylaminorex Місяць тому +420

    Countdown to zero day is a great book about Stuxnet.

    • @remember2023
      @remember2023 Місяць тому +4

      This.

    • @HawkThis
      @HawkThis Місяць тому +2

      @@remember2023 They are all targets

    • @jasonlib1996
      @jasonlib1996 Місяць тому +4

      Literally finished listening to the audiobook about 2 days ago, and now this video comes out! "get out of my head simon!"
      But fully agree, a really good and interesting book

    • @CheekyMenace
      @CheekyMenace Місяць тому +4

      There's also a documentary called, Zero Days.

    • @FBA-REPARATIONS-NOW
      @FBA-REPARATIONS-NOW Місяць тому

      You probably think your picture is funny. But the fact is, your kind can't compete against us where it counts. We have it on lock and don't have to resort to gutter pfps.

  • @mookie2637
    @mookie2637 Місяць тому +31

    Thjis is a very simplistic account. Firstly, it seems to ignore entirely the straightforward point that the Natanz centrigues were entirely interconnected by a pressure detection system, also controlled by PLCs, which would take individual centriguges offline if they were found to be an issue (bear in mind that we are talking about very small pressure differences). This probably required not only the possession of P1 centrifuges, but a much higher level of testing in which multiple P1s were actually connected by an automated overpressure system, which may actually have used uranium hexafluouride. This pressure system was how the first attack probably damaged the centrigues; and was actually quite difficult to detect. This first attack may not have involved Israel. And secondly this account also seemingly ignores the point that there was distinctly more than one attack - using differnt techniques, in which different actors were involved. The second, for example, was the one that actually went after the rotor PLCs. And the "leak" referred to may have been the worm looking for serial numbers of specific Siemens PLCs.

    • @CompoundingTime
      @CompoundingTime 20 днів тому +6

      Or the fact it was written in assembly which is a massive accomplishment. TAO isn't even called TAO anymore as well.

    • @olfrygt
      @olfrygt 16 днів тому +6

      It's an half-hour youtube video. It's bound to be simplistic. The details you added where left out for good reason.

  • @concadium
    @concadium Місяць тому +34

    I highly recomment reading "To kill a centrifuge" by Langner, it is their version of the Stuxnet analysis and covers the whole operation in a lot of detail.

  • @ignitionfrn2223
    @ignitionfrn2223 Місяць тому +43

    1:45 - Chapter 1 - The timeline
    18:55 - Chapter 2 - The unsolvable equation ; fanny , flame & flowershop
    22:00 - Chapter 3 - The future

  • @FlyWithFitz81
    @FlyWithFitz81 Місяць тому +181

    Not to be confused with Suxnet, the.... other way to make things blow.

  • @irflashrex
    @irflashrex Місяць тому +14

    Beware of the USB stick in the parking lot.

  • @sammills2422
    @sammills2422 24 дні тому +2

    Man this guy has so many channels and they’re all so well made, I know he has a writing / editing team but he’s clearly been amazing at organising and setting them all up and keeping up with the schedule

  • @JonMidtan
    @JonMidtan Місяць тому +52

    The script is usually very tight on here.
    'An existential crisis to their existence'
    The exception that proves the rule.

    • @removechan10298
      @removechan10298 Місяць тому +1

      what are the first 20 words of this video?

    • @lisaschuster686
      @lisaschuster686 26 днів тому +2

      I heard that too, but it’s nothing compared to the usual UA-cam mistakes.

  • @armlegx
    @armlegx Місяць тому +75

    I think $300M/year of delay is actually decent. In comparison to a "new bomb" which would need its own research and development and a bespoke production line for a limited number of bombs and it looks like maybe a wash.

    • @Rootiga
      @Rootiga Місяць тому +9

      Exactly my thoughts, conventional weapons always cost significantly more in R&D (not to mention the cost of physical resources as well)

  • @SavageDragon999
    @SavageDragon999 Місяць тому +159

    If Natanz was truly airgap, how could the virus send information back to the US?

    • @night_light2867
      @night_light2867 Місяць тому +105

      There are ways an app can use any piece of wire as a transmitter same as how phones use headphone jack as radio antennas and there are many more ways

    • @jacko101
      @jacko101 Місяць тому +9

      Exactly what I was thinking...!

    • @SavageDragon999
      @SavageDragon999 Місяць тому +94

      @@night_light2867 This crucial piece of information should've been addressed in the video in depth because without a way to transmit information, it's useless.

    • @d_n_u
      @d_n_u Місяць тому +6

      Do y'all have any video recs on the topic, did a quick search but found nothing :(

    • @THE-X-Force
      @THE-X-Force Місяць тому +23

      OTHER computers that were infected sent information back. Not the air-gapped ones.

  • @davidhawley1132
    @davidhawley1132 Місяць тому +3

    I'd heard part of this before, but this video put it all together. Good job.

  • @bitmau5
    @bitmau5 Місяць тому +21

    I remember when this happened. I also vividly remember, how at the time, my work place was full of PLC's. I was very tech minded and a lot of access to things that I probably shouldn't have. Stuxnet was some scary stuff, for the potential havoc it could wreak on just about any company, anywhere with a PLC. It just made me realize how exposed we are when it comes to hardware security.

    • @Bobbias
      @Bobbias Місяць тому +2

      Especially since it was (and often still is) rare for companies to take PLC security that seriously.
      It's also frustrating that many PLC manufacturers like to hid behind obscurity as security rather than keep information out in the open so it can be properly audited by people who actually care about security.

    • @charlesdada6434
      @charlesdada6434 Місяць тому

      Um, what's a PLC?

    • @Bobbias
      @Bobbias Місяць тому

      @@charlesdada6434 Programmable Logic Controller. It's a small industrial PC which is designed to interface with industrial sensors and equipment. Typically the only IO they have built in is some kind of networking, and either built in digital logic (usually at 24 volts) or some way to interface with external logic cards. They may have analog IO available, and they often have extension modules that can add significantly more IO. They're often programmed using Ladder Logic, or other simplified programming languages. PLCs don't typically run a standard OS, but instead run the user's code more or less directly. This is because they need to be able to react to changes in the inputs extremely fast.
      Most of the time the way they work is highly proprietary, and because they are very spplication specific, few people outside of industrial process and controls know anything at all about them. Many of the people programming them are either electricians or electrical engineers (or are self taught from elsewhere in some company) rather than computer programmers.

    • @flagmichael
      @flagmichael 29 днів тому

      @@charlesdada6434 Programmable Logic Controller. It is a generic controller with a bunch of inputs and outputs. The programming is what makes it work in all sorts of devices: street lights, water treatment, lighting in a building of any size... if you have read or seen "I, Robot" you get the idea.

  • @torinnbalasar6774
    @torinnbalasar6774 Місяць тому +27

    The story I had originally heard about how Stuxnet infiltrated the facility was a usb drive dropped in the parking lot. Had no idea it was a long-term program with two-way communication rather than a single attack destroying the centrifuges. The description I was aware of had claimed that the worm cloned parts of itself onto more usb drives to carry it back out of the facility in order to reach an internet-connected device it could deliver a "job complete" message through, but if it was able to receive updates regularly, there was clearly a more reliable communication method established that breached the air-gapped nature of the network.

    • @alperenozturk9235
      @alperenozturk9235 Місяць тому +3

      I believe there is still a classified part of HUMINT work on the background.

    • @ftffighter
      @ftffighter Місяць тому +1

      I've always wondered if the high rate of the centerfuges caused vibrations that could be felt outside somehow and those vibrations were the transmission?

    • @Cumdown
      @Cumdown Місяць тому

      ​@@ftffighterwhat is the receiver in this case?

    • @nicknickels7951
      @nicknickels7951 Місяць тому

      😂 🆒 interesting...

  • @user-rd6ii6mp1t
    @user-rd6ii6mp1t Місяць тому +24

    I had to write a report on this when I was taking cybersecurity classes. Definition of a watershed moment.

    • @user-rd6ii6mp1t
      @user-rd6ii6mp1t Місяць тому

      @@rosem7889
      wa·ter·shed
      /ˈwôdərˌSHed,ˈwädərˌSHed/
      noun
      noun: watershed; plural noun: watersheds
      1.
      an area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas.
      an area or region drained by a river, river system, or other body of water.
      2.
      an event or period marking a turning point in a course of action or state of affairs.
      "these works mark a watershed in the history of music"
      Thanks, Google!

    • @Cumdown
      @Cumdown Місяць тому +1

      Watershed is (and I start with this as I find it interesting) the catchment area of rivers, streams, lakes. The line between each catchment area is rather definitive, hence its use.
      A watershed moment refers to a deep change in thinking, approach, direction, of how one thinks about something.
      Hope the above helps ❤

    • @harku123
      @harku123 Місяць тому +2

      ​@@rosem7889 watershed moment means an important point in history that would change the future

    • @ZeSgtSchultz
      @ZeSgtSchultz Місяць тому

      ​@@harku123I wonder if the first watershed moment was the flood after the ice age?

    • @pitchforkpeasant6219
      @pitchforkpeasant6219 Місяць тому

      @@harku123like destroying a facility in iran? During obama? It happened

  • @charleswomack2166
    @charleswomack2166 Місяць тому +22

    I absolutely love how Simon uses his voice to keep everyone on the edge of their seat.

  • @Vicarious_Heart
    @Vicarious_Heart Місяць тому +30

    Stuxnet is gonna need a sequel soon.

    • @mcboat3467
      @mcboat3467 Місяць тому +14

      And it would be used on apartheid state of Israel

    • @Sam_Guevenne
      @Sam_Guevenne Місяць тому +8

      It's called Pegasus

    • @ymtzlgn
      @ymtzlgn Місяць тому +17

      @@mcboat3467lol keep dreaming

    • @freedombro6502
      @freedombro6502 Місяць тому +12

      Israel is NOT an apartheid state.
      South africa has no moral ground to stand on ​@mcboat3467

    • @willyvereb
      @willyvereb Місяць тому

      ​@@freedombro6502 Lot of people are blind to the complete insanity which is going on South Africa. They kill tens of thousands in violent activities even though they don't have an active war in a tiny region constraining 2 millions to the size of Las Vegas to worry about. There are a lot of terrible things going on there and Gazan needs more help than ever. I just wonder where had been these outcries and protests when other countries used poison gas against minorities, interred an entire population into rape camps or stole all children to re-educate them to another culture. It's easy to blame a minority culture which has good standing with the West and is put against a billion Arabs. It is apparently much harder to actually call out evil deeds done by the side which keeps funneling them all the money to embezzle...

  • @landlubbber
    @landlubbber Місяць тому +12

    Worth noting that we actually don't know just how effective the Stuxnet development was, since it's possible that many techniques and maybe other zero-days are still in use in other attacks around the world.

    • @revcor632
      @revcor632 Місяць тому +2

      We don’t “know” nearly as much as this video suggests… it relies pretty heavily on one questionable article as its “source”

  • @chingading957
    @chingading957 Місяць тому +4

    Fascinating video. Please do more on cybersecurity

  • @BrandonQ1995
    @BrandonQ1995 Місяць тому +43

    I remember all the talk about Russia's cyber warfare capabilities on the lead up to its invasion of Ukraine. Ended up falling flat. As much as the complexity of viruses are growing, it seems our capabilities in fighting them are as well. Or, Russia just sucks at cyber warfare.

    • @tom.m
      @tom.m Місяць тому +13

      I haven't kept up with it, but they did a lot in the early days. News reporters were struggling to do their job as any PC connected to Ukrainian internet got hacked. Many of them ended up sharing a single laptop with a satellite connection.

    • @theforsakeen-9014
      @theforsakeen-9014 Місяць тому

      don't you hear on the news everyday how china has already stolen even IP or data in the US that can be reached digitally? And russia don't steal as much but they are widely suspected to be the ones behind the shadow broker group, as their cyber capabilities are second only to the US.

    • @user-tm9qs7jo9j
      @user-tm9qs7jo9j Місяць тому +8

      And Russia has prioritized going after the weakest part of every computer on Earth...the user.

    • @tomlxyz
      @tomlxyz Місяць тому

      I assume to some degree they don't want to take everything down but rather use it to spy. If nothing works it won't get new input which could be strategically useful information

    • @Hillary4SupremeRuler
      @Hillary4SupremeRuler Місяць тому

      Yes...they hacked the Clinton Campaign with a regular old gmail password reset phishing link ​@@user-tm9qs7jo9j

  • @scylla88shawn14
    @scylla88shawn14 Місяць тому +1

    Amazing Episode Simon 👏

  • @ZechsMerquise195
    @ZechsMerquise195 Місяць тому +6

    I remember when news of Stuxnet first appeared. I was studying IT at the time and didn't really grasp the enormous possible consequences. Some people I studied with, and who had a lot more experience, were terrified. Some thought it might spell the end of the internet.

  • @kennethnielsen3864
    @kennethnielsen3864 Місяць тому +2

    Thanks for sharing.

  • @duke6961
    @duke6961 Місяць тому +13

    Keep up with these informative and entertaining videos.

  • @dizefx
    @dizefx Місяць тому +9

    Zero Days is a nice documentary about this. Some NSA whistleblowers say their part too, undercover ofc. Strongly recommend it.

  • @SkyWolfPirate
    @SkyWolfPirate Місяць тому +5

    Yes thank you was watching old video on this the other day

  • @SuperNesus
    @SuperNesus Місяць тому +5

    What a throwback! Clicked as soon as i saw that name!!!

  • @DerNiederlander
    @DerNiederlander Місяць тому

    This man has like 1 million channels and is pumping out videos on all of them almost everyday. He is everywhere

  • @Ampersandbonerjam
    @Ampersandbonerjam Місяць тому +183

    British V sauce man never stops bringing the content

    • @THE-X-Force
      @THE-X-Force Місяць тому +3

      lol .. he wishes he was VSauce

    • @AverageFornaxEnjoyer
      @AverageFornaxEnjoyer Місяць тому +1

      I cannot unsee it.

    • @Callingoutrtards
      @Callingoutrtards Місяць тому +20

      ​@@THE-X-Forceyou wish you had a fraction of either men's influence

    • @verse8833
      @verse8833 Місяць тому

      Vsauce is awesome!

    • @THE-X-Force
      @THE-X-Force Місяць тому

      @@Callingoutrtards lol .. I'm not the one who brought it up and believe me .. I'm perfectly fine with who and what I am. I don't want anything that I do not have.

  • @ratchet2505
    @ratchet2505 Місяць тому +54

    The most scary part, most maleare is sitting dormant waiting for an action command to start attacking. We haven't even had the first real spark yet.

    • @scheikundeiscool4086
      @scheikundeiscool4086 Місяць тому +2

      I do wonder if this fact is something that is stopping nuclear war. Because all sides are now scared that their own weapons are compimised and an attack might backfire.

    • @antoy384
      @antoy384 Місяць тому +2

      @@scheikundeiscool4086Given that the average programmer on Stuxnet wasn’t better than the average consultant (the only genius was bought by the mass of developers working on it), I can’t imagine what a missile infested with viruses from all nations would look like. Indeed, no one would be able to launch it.

    • @revcor632
      @revcor632 Місяць тому +6

      What makes you think that “most malware” is like this..?

    • @tomlxyz
      @tomlxyz Місяць тому

      I'm wondering how much of this type of malware like Stuxnet is out there that is already doing its work but doing it so slowly that it doesn't get detected. Like imagine attacking a company or a whole country in a way that they become just slightly too inefficient to still run profitable/having GDP growth. Kinda like killing someone with a slow acting poison so it looks they just died of an illness

    • @m2heavyindustries378
      @m2heavyindustries378 Місяць тому +8

      Man couldn't even spell 'malware' properly with the help of spellcheck and cut and paste, it's likely just some edgy teen on his family computer

  • @dat_asian_dude
    @dat_asian_dude Місяць тому +5

    Check out Zero Days. It's a documentary style movie about Stuxnet. And there is also a book: Countdown to Zero Day

  • @rcwlson1
    @rcwlson1 Місяць тому +1

    aaaaah I love the 80's action movie one liners at the end of your videos.

  • @ngrin3209
    @ngrin3209 Місяць тому +1

    Love the content.. always!
    But give me longer to sit up and like the video/check that I have when it finishes!!! ahah

  • @MrTexasDan
    @MrTexasDan Місяць тому +3

    The Stuxnet operation crosses the line into art. So elegant and clever.

    • @MrTexasDan
      @MrTexasDan Місяць тому

      @@removechan10298 Really? Do tell.

  • @klti0815
    @klti0815 Місяць тому +4

    There's a great documentary by Alex Gibney called "Zero Days" about it, that looks at it more as the story of discovery and reverse engineering what it actually does. This was a wild time blowing everyones minds about what is really out there. Also, te fact that they found and essentially burned 4 Windows zero days is wild, a no interaction Windows zero day is incredibly hard to find, and worth millions on the open market for these kind of things. Though it probably helped that Windows licensing deals for the military and the likes have included access to the source code for years.

  • @jerichoroad5814
    @jerichoroad5814 Місяць тому

    Cool stuff Simon

  • @WolfhasaWASR
    @WolfhasaWASR Місяць тому +1

    Fantastic job

  • @melchiel4413
    @melchiel4413 Місяць тому +45

    Much as there was once an age of pike and shot, we are now in the age of drones and hackers. It would be wise to be the first to adopt them skillfully.

    • @jaybee9269
      @jaybee9269 Місяць тому +9

      Cyber commands already exist.

    • @ljt3084
      @ljt3084 Місяць тому

      Except the CIA didn't use it wisely and aside from attacking a country the western powers always like to paint as an aggressor, Stuxnet threatened a lot of computer services globally including the British NHS at the time.

    • @kameronjones7139
      @kameronjones7139 Місяць тому +3

      ​@@jaybee9269 yeah dude is a good 20-30 years behind

    • @jishani1
      @jishani1 23 дні тому

      If you think we're not still in an age of pike and shot look into the defense minister in the UK suggesting a draft and stating they're not prepared to defend themselves against Russian aggression.

    • @kameronjones7139
      @kameronjones7139 23 дні тому

      @@jishani1 that is the uk

  • @Mike-ls1uj
    @Mike-ls1uj Місяць тому +3

    Low key reassurance in regards to thier current situation

  • @jfk4229
    @jfk4229 14 днів тому +1

    Working with PLC's daily I can assure you they are some of the biggest cybersecurity nightmares. Because uptime is very much preferred over cybersecurity. Even if you know about issues, you cant deploy them cause uptime.

  • @henrychinaski846
    @henrychinaski846 Місяць тому

    Simon, you're an incredibly great presenter! While watching this video I thought of the work and dedication of the author/writer!
    You have a great staff! They deserve more attention! Thank you for your great work!

  • @notajetplane
    @notajetplane Місяць тому +3

    Wow. I had no idea about any of this. Neat.

    • @Sam_Guevenne
      @Sam_Guevenne Місяць тому

      Look up the virus known as Pegasus (It's very very scary"

  • @THE-X-Force
    @THE-X-Force Місяць тому +30

    Has this ever been made into a movie? Because it should be.

    • @dat_asian_dude
      @dat_asian_dude Місяць тому +5

      It has. Check out Zero Days.

    • @THE-X-Force
      @THE-X-Force Місяць тому +3

      @@dat_asian_dude Sweet .. thank you!

    • @dat_asian_dude
      @dat_asian_dude Місяць тому

      @@THE-X-Force anytime dude! Easiest way to watch it is on Max but I think youtube has it for like 5 bucks

    • @user-ie1tz5rm8x
      @user-ie1tz5rm8x 22 дні тому

      Do you tell the good story , or lie lie fib some and exaggerate ? Very goode ideas are hard to come by , how what happened right then , is a grande tale - best never told , they might use it against us , or we might need to do it to them , again . New habits new weaknesses , press on comrade!.. reelect Trotsky!

  • @winstonsmith6204
    @winstonsmith6204 Місяць тому +1

    These videos are top notch

  • @yanikq
    @yanikq Місяць тому +1

    Usually a religious Warographics listener, but rolled my eyes on the release of this stuxnet episode. So didn't listen to it immediately but I'm grateful for "the algorithm" sneaking it into the autoplay-list.
    I thought I already knew everything there was to know but then Mr. Whistler's team goes and unearthed the Dutch connection.
    Well done, well done
    👏

  • @theodorsonfors1391
    @theodorsonfors1391 Місяць тому +3

    I've seen a few videos about stuxnet and I can tell you this is by far the one with the most work put in. Great job researchers.

    • @fautedemieux21
      @fautedemieux21 Місяць тому +1

      If that's the case... you haven't seen enough.

    • @theodorsonfors1391
      @theodorsonfors1391 Місяць тому

      @@fautedemieux21 Do you have any suggestions?

  • @serenity749
    @serenity749 Місяць тому +3

    I actually requested a deep dive into this on Simons reddit. I'm so happy someone took it up!!! I was thinking Casual Criminalist or Dark Shadows, but it actually makes more sense in Warographics. It is truly shocking to me how little people know about this, much less how under reported it was. I feel like cyber warfare took such a huge leap forward from this event, and I can only find a little content related to it. It's shocking. Scary. The future of cyber warfare is terrifying to me. Hope this video helps to spread awareness. I would have liked to hear this in a free format though. Still, awesome video. Great content!!!!!!!!!!!

  • @durivage1
    @durivage1 Місяць тому

    I love Business Blaze and probably watch those video's the most but it's video's like this that brought me into Simon's orbit in the first place and I'll always be a fan of. 🎉

  • @JeepTJay6
    @JeepTJay6 29 днів тому +2

    22:48 Holy shit! The algorithm just randomly dropped this in my feed last night. And the Iranian president goes down in a chopper this morning?!? WTF? 😮

  • @Votrae
    @Votrae Місяць тому +3

    TIL "specialisms" is a word. Excellent writing and presentation as always!

  • @LtColShingSides
    @LtColShingSides Місяць тому +3

    If Iran's nuclear facilities were air gap, how did the virus communicate with the US and israel?
    I'm not calling Simon into question, just curious

  • @Gizmologist_
    @Gizmologist_ Місяць тому

    Incredible video. Very comprehensive in terms of political involvement.

  • @michaelbaxter8249
    @michaelbaxter8249 17 днів тому

    Great vid thank you.

  • @tjr3357
    @tjr3357 Місяць тому +5

    So I have watched a few of your videos, and while I have liked them, I also didn’t really know the subject matter. This one I did, and out of curiosity, I looked and noticed you followed the Wikipedia page on this subject pretty closely/exactly. You have good presentation, and for those unfamiliar with the various subjects you cover, these are great videos. It would be cool to see deeper dives with some independent research, alternate sources, etc.

    • @pitchforkpeasant6219
      @pitchforkpeasant6219 Місяць тому

      “Zero Days”. A documentary

    • @pitchforkpeasant6219
      @pitchforkpeasant6219 Місяць тому

      Wikipedia has become a bit manipulated biased in one direction. Its far from reliable these days. Been watching history being revised for over a decade and its just as bad. Almost fifty years of studying history just watching it change like night and day☹️

  • @apexcrypto01
    @apexcrypto01 Місяць тому +37

    Honestly it's incredible this operation was pulled off. It's refreshing to see the US protrayed so competent. Fu*k anyone who was against this. This is truly bad ass.

    • @theforsakeen-9014
      @theforsakeen-9014 Місяць тому +7

      it got out of hand though when it infected thousands of other computers outside iran.

    • @bmxerkrantz
      @bmxerkrantz Місяць тому +4

      imagine what is being done even more competently.... as in enough to not get caught...

    • @andersjjensen
      @andersjjensen Місяць тому

      Uh, not having a fail safe against widespread "release" was not exactly competent. Imagine what would have happened if it had ended up in, say, a nuclear power plant, and found Siemens PLCs, and then blindly just treating what was connected to those PLCs as if they were centrifuges. PLCs don't have something like USB Discovery where you can see what's connected to them. They're just dumb "switch boxes" where you need to understand the wiring to be able to understand the code running on them.
      It was advanced, bold, risky and fairly competent. But I'd really like a video of the meeting where someone went "Uh... why the FUCK can this thing spread like wild fire WHILE NOT being capable of removing itself without a trance if it finds itself on Aunt Gerda's freaking laptop?!?"

    • @SeanZ1L
      @SeanZ1L Місяць тому +1

      $1b cost for a 3-4 year delay in Iran’s nuclear capability, small bit of a waste of hard working taxpayer money if you ask me but i’m no expect in these matters, neither was the government it seems

    • @hypno5690
      @hypno5690 23 дні тому

      ​@@SeanZ1Lyeah you're really not an expert. Not much of a layman either tbh.

  • @Kolor-kode
    @Kolor-kode Місяць тому +4

    Wasn't just Stuxnet, a whole slew of malware based on the Tilded platform , include Duqu and the star of the show, Stuxnet.

  • @Solomon_animated
    @Solomon_animated Місяць тому +1

    Darknet Diaries covered this one I think, due to it being about hacking and what not. Good episode.

  • @infinitenovelty
    @infinitenovelty 12 днів тому

    Simon has quite possibly the most aggressive inhale I have ever heard 😂

  • @nolongerblocked6210
    @nolongerblocked6210 Місяць тому +30

    Everyone likes to think only China or Russia has high quality hackers, the truth is the US has the best hackers in the world(TOA)... to go along with the best military equipment in the world

    • @mill2712
      @mill2712 Місяць тому +12

      The reason we don't hear about it is because...
      1. We aren't trying to mess with the common company or citizenry in those countries.
      2. The best attacks are the ones they don't know about.
      3. If those countries know they got hit, they aren't telling that they got hit.

    • @DanSoloha
      @DanSoloha Місяць тому

      Our equipment is overpriced and over sophisticated - it relies too heavily on technology, which is highly prone to electronic warfare/ jamming, as seen in Ukraine
      Edit: some of our equipment, I should clarify; systems like HIMARS and Javelin, for example, have proven highly effective

    • @santman3200
      @santman3200 Місяць тому +4

      @@DanSoloha Ovepriced sure, over sophisticated fuck no. Literally non of the high end equipement has been given to ukraine so I don't know what you are yapping about with elecotrninc warfare.

    • @dianapennepacker6854
      @dianapennepacker6854 Місяць тому +2

      ​@@DanSolohaThe things Russia has jammed only partially jammed it. A lot of them have back ups like interial navigation which has improved. Remember we give them hand me downs.
      Or could be taken out quickly when used with weapons the US has but Ukraine does not in great numbers. Like aircraft and harm missiles.
      Those bombs and shells were less accurate, but still much more accurate than dumb fire munitions.

    • @noahgray543
      @noahgray543 Місяць тому

      ​@DanSoloha oh look, one of the "Reformers." We've been hearing this since the F-16 and it proved you guys wrong hard. Go play with rocks, luddite.

  • @globaled1694
    @globaled1694 Місяць тому +7

    mfs out here hacking nuclear powerplants meanwhile i cant remember how to unlock my phone

  • @9tailedfox96
    @9tailedfox96 Місяць тому

    I love recommending the book Sandworm to people that are curious about this stuff. It largely covers this same story but with more little details

  • @74357175
    @74357175 16 днів тому +1

    If the centrifuges were air-gapped to the rest of the Internet, how was Stuxnet able to communicate and update itself?

  • @Jp-ue8xz
    @Jp-ue8xz Місяць тому +3

    0d exploit when a normal third party found it = Remarkable investigation and skills used to find it 😎
    "0d" exploit when the government finds it in big tech software = They just asked microshoft for their backdoors 😅

  • @tonybrock5288
    @tonybrock5288 Місяць тому

    Simon you are a master of speech delivery and hats off to your deserved success! I have started noticing something that troubles me though... In the "early" days your speech was bright and crisp! These days I'm picking up something slightly more slurred. I pray that your health is good but if this is news to you please have it checked out.

  • @johnemanuele8695
    @johnemanuele8695 8 днів тому

    The documentary "ZERO DAYS"..details this undertaking

  • @imadeafunny2109
    @imadeafunny2109 Місяць тому +12

    I feel like Simon & Team is fast becoming my Walter Cronkite

    • @Bozbaby103
      @Bozbaby103 Місяць тому

      He (and co) and Beau of the Fifth Column are my go-tos.

  • @jfraley80
    @jfraley80 Місяць тому +4

    How did it phone home if the facility was air gapped?

  • @jeraldbottcher1588
    @jeraldbottcher1588 25 днів тому

    excellent presentation

  • @Reformed322
    @Reformed322 Місяць тому

    i would love to work with those guys some day. the equation group is such an awesome name too.

  • @jazdragen
    @jazdragen Місяць тому +3

    Simonverse spy stories continue 🎉🎉🎉

  • @petertimowreef9085
    @petertimowreef9085 Місяць тому +22

    10:50 how the heck did the program contact it's creators if the facility's system was totally isolated? If it broadcasted a signal, how come the Iranians didn't pick up on it?

    • @CarlTSpeak
      @CarlTSpeak Місяць тому +4

      It didn't. Airgapped. Was exfiltrated from site.

    • @petertimowreef9085
      @petertimowreef9085 Місяць тому +4

      @@CarlTSpeak Excuse my ignorance but I still don't understand. At 10:57 he says stuxnet "would send this map back to the programmers". What method of data transfer did stuxnet use to communicate that information?

    • @Arcomist
      @Arcomist Місяць тому +1

      ​@@petertimowreef9085 As I understand it, if a copy of a virus escaped the site with information (infected a device inside and got carried away to another with internet access) it will connect to the programers and then an updated virus could then again infect the facility

    • @petertimowreef9085
      @petertimowreef9085 Місяць тому

      @@Arcomist Right, so the virus left the nuclear complex in a physical sense, on a thumb-drive or something?

    • @patrickcarcamo622
      @patrickcarcamo622 24 дні тому

      ​@@petertimowreef9085Correct, on any device that was infected.

  • @oedihamijok6504
    @oedihamijok6504 Місяць тому +2

    Stuxnet = High-Tier
    Pegasus = Ultra-High-Tier
    Operation Triangulation = God tier

  • @genehenson8851
    @genehenson8851 Місяць тому

    WTF!?!? I thought I knew all of Simon’s channels yet, somehow, here we are learning about war things, with Simon, on a new channel.

  • @pedzsan
    @pedzsan Місяць тому +4

    If the facility was air gapped, how did they get data and updates back and forth? Your explanation is critically flawed.

  • @dh1380
    @dh1380 Місяць тому +4

    "An existential threat to its existence"
    I see 😅
    IIRC it was also Dutch nuclear technology that was stolen by AQ Kahn, the world's most prolific illegal nuclear proliferator and guy who gave Pakistan the bomb.

  • @Venser420
    @Venser420 Місяць тому +2

    I live 45min from INL (Idaho National Labs) had zero clue they were involved in this operation. That is pretty neat, I'll have to let a friend of mine who works there know.

    • @pitchforkpeasant6219
      @pitchforkpeasant6219 Місяць тому

      Anyone you know there at idaho labs ever work with a nuclear energy producing technology that used sodium as a coolant and the system could NOT melt down? The scientists working on it literally tried a melt down and could not do so. Clinton shut it down. Assume too much money from big oil was the motive

  • @stuartrobb673
    @stuartrobb673 Місяць тому +2

    It was introduced by encoding every single hard disk manufactured by western digital and seagate at the point of manufacture. That’s how I’d do it

    • @stuartrobb673
      @stuartrobb673 Місяць тому

      SIS. I’m available for weddings and bar mitzvahs

  • @hachimaru295
    @hachimaru295 Місяць тому +5

    lawrence of arabia might have been bumped off too riding his motorbike ... just syaing

  • @virkutisss3563
    @virkutisss3563 Місяць тому +3

    10:58 wait wait wait, how did this virus send the map of operations back us/israel if this plant was in isolation from world internet?

  • @patron7924
    @patron7924 Місяць тому

    Love the glasses Simon 😎

  • @altf2o
    @altf2o 28 днів тому +1

    Do you know what I’d pay to hear a deep dive, TED talk from the programmers of this? That would be incredible!

  • @dark_fire_ice
    @dark_fire_ice Місяць тому +3

    Yeah, I wrote a paper on it. Shit is utterly insane

  • @aftbit
    @aftbit Місяць тому +3

    11:00 I don't quite get that. If the network was airgapped, how would the virus exfiltrate information to the US or get updates?

    • @Pepesilvia267
      @Pepesilvia267 Місяць тому +1

      You can send data through power outlets or maybe use some piece of equipment to generate radio waves. I’ll bet the facility had phones or fax or something that wasn’t for the internet but did allow communication to the outside world. If you had something consistent like power line voltage or water pressure you could use changes in that as binary. Basically stuxnet could control some secondary system as communication if something simple like phone lines or RF wasn’t available. Heck let’s get crazy. It could hijack an exterior camera and watch for smoke signals sent by a spy elsewhere in the country and could hijack a lamp post to flicker on and off to transmit. The possibilities are endless if you are creative enough and the virus has control of enough systems.

  • @mro6030
    @mro6030 Місяць тому +2

    There are some inconsistencies in what is being told here, specially the air gap argument and the program being able to communicate back with its creators.
    There is a 2016 documentary called Zero Days, produced by Alex Gibney that goes deep into Stuxnet, although it is interesting that the Dutch engineer is not mentioned in it.

  • @OmegaDenz96
    @OmegaDenz96 Місяць тому +2

    Watch the movie "Zero Days" years ago, and definitely got intrigue about this one.

  • @Alex-hu5eg
    @Alex-hu5eg Місяць тому +4

    It was elegant

  • @journeymanjoey55
    @journeymanjoey55 Місяць тому +3

    Get a DeEsser plugin for your editor. Please.

    • @bmxerkrantz
      @bmxerkrantz Місяць тому

      or the writer... danny, no more s's or no more magic thpoon for you!

    • @dsquareddan
      @dsquareddan 26 днів тому

      ok it's not just me. good god. it's so bad. my ears. and his constant breathing in between words

  • @Joshplaysguitar69
    @Joshplaysguitar69 Місяць тому

    Your voice has way too much reverb on it. Love your content!

  • @geemooney2229
    @geemooney2229 Місяць тому

    I could study this for years!

  • @Warhead-haggis
    @Warhead-haggis Місяць тому +10

    Did they try switching it off and then switching it back on?

    • @andersgrassman6583
      @andersgrassman6583 Місяць тому

      Standard advice you get from IT-support. Probably the same in Iran.😂

  • @matthew164
    @matthew164 Місяць тому +3

    Umm, how can it be updated remotely? Let alone get the data back If it was physically disconnected from the interwebs?

    • @BravoOne1
      @BravoOne1 Місяць тому +2

      A backdoor could've been installed along with the virus or the virus was programmed to create a backdoor

    • @evrythingis1
      @evrythingis1 Місяць тому

      Umm, you ever think it could get out the same way the virus got INTO the building ? Are you developmentally disabled?

    • @evrythingis1
      @evrythingis1 Місяць тому

      @@BravoOne1 What is the point of this bot comment!?

  • @cconnors
    @cconnors 28 днів тому +1

    Stuxnet was introduced into the network by simply infecting many USB sticks that were sold at electronics stores nearest the plant. Eventually someone from the plant bought and used one of the infected sticks.

    • @eadweard.
      @eadweard. 27 днів тому +2

      Did you watch the video? That's not what happened.

  • @OiledLabia
    @OiledLabia 6 днів тому

    Dear Simon and Associated Team- how many channels do y'all own and how many videos does Simon have to record in a day to keep this level of consistency in terms of uploads?

  • @ScottySundown
    @ScottySundown Місяць тому +3

    Thank God for nerds!!!