Iran 'targeted by new computer virus'

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http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/2011425163710464916.html

Iran 'targeted by new computer virus'

Official says Stars - the second virus to attack country's network in eight

months - is under investigation by experts.

Last Modified: 25 Apr 2011 17:47

Iran has been targeted by a new computer virus in a " cyber war " waged by its

enemies, according to a senior military official of the Islamic republic.

Gholam Reza Jalali, commander of civil defence, told the semi-official Mehr news

agency on Monday that the new virus, called Stars, was being investigated by

experts.

" Certain characteristics about the Stars virus have been identified, including

that it is compatible with the [targeted] system, " he said.

He said that Iranian experts were still investigating the full scope of the

malware's abilities.

Jalali played down the impact of Stars, but said it is " harmonious " with

computer systems and " inflicts minor damage in the initial stage and might be

mistaken for executive files of governmental organisations " .

He did not say what equipment or facilities the virus targeted, or when experts

first detected it.

Stars is the second serious computer worm to hit Iran in the past eight months.