My major scoop is that my senior Israeli source confirms that it is a product of Israeli cyberwarfare experts. Most such products are produced by the IDF’s Unit 8200, though the Mossad also may take some role in such projects. So add to all the previous marginally successful efforts this new one. The goal is apparently to infiltrate the computers of individuals in Iran, Israel, Palestine and elsewhere who are engaged in activities that interest Israel’s secret police including military intelligence. My source also tells me that this is the first known instance in which Israeli intelligence has used malware to intrude on Israeli citizens. Within Israel and the Palestinian territories Flame is implemented by the Shin Bet. The “beauty” of it for the secret police is that unlike “legal” eavesdropping on phones or computers, you don’t need to ask for judicial approval to infect a computer.
And all those Iranian tech people who have been tied up in assuring that military and critical civilian systems are clean-- well, they are no longer available for other pursuits, like refining nuclear detonation models or missile control systems.
Ensuring military and critical civilian systems are clean is important, but it seems like it would be the kind of tedious medium-skill job that would not be assigned to someone who's built a career on refining nuclear detonation models or missile control systems.
The Guardian was originally a Manchester paper - it's been based in London for a while, but as a national paper, I don't think you can really call it the "London" Guardian.
Slashdot Mirror
My major scoop is that my senior Israeli source confirms that it is a product of Israeli cyberwarfare experts. Most such products are produced by the IDF’s Unit 8200, though the Mossad also may take some role in such projects. So add to all the previous marginally successful efforts this new one. The goal is apparently to infiltrate the computers of individuals in Iran, Israel, Palestine and elsewhere who are engaged in activities that interest Israel’s secret police including military intelligence. My source also tells me that this is the first known instance in which Israeli intelligence has used malware to intrude on Israeli citizens. Within Israel and the Palestinian territories Flame is implemented by the Shin Bet. The “beauty” of it for the secret police is that unlike “legal” eavesdropping on phones or computers, you don’t need to ask for judicial approval to infect a computer.
Make of it what you will.
And all those Iranian tech people who have been tied up in assuring that military and critical civilian systems are clean-- well, they are no longer available for other pursuits, like refining nuclear detonation models or missile control systems.
Ensuring military and critical civilian systems are clean is important, but it seems like it would be the kind of tedious medium-skill job that would not be assigned to someone who's built a career on refining nuclear detonation models or missile control systems.
The Guardian was originally a Manchester paper - it's been based in London for a while, but as a national paper, I don't think you can really call it the "London" Guardian.