Stuxnet and other big worms and viruses

The computer virus is growing in popularity as the weapon-of-choice in the Middle East. Here’s a look at some of the more notable viruses and worms.

5 Seconds

00:00

Flame

A close-up of code contained in the Flame virus. The virus has been spotted in Iran, Israel, the Palestinian territories, Syria and Lebanon. The virus is one of the most sophisticated ever developed, able to activate computer microphones, log keystrokes and steal data, among other capabilities. Given its size, some have posited that the virus could have only been developed by the United States and Israel, but neither has claimed responsibility for the virus, which was originally reported to the International Telecommunication Union by the Iranian government.

Sebastian Widmann / DAPD

Stuxnet

Iranian technicians work at the nuclear power plant outside of Bushehr, Iran in an Aug. 23, 2010 photo released by the International Iran Photo Agency. That year, Iran's nuclear facilities were sent into turmoil by the malicious computer virus Stuxnet. The New York Times reported on June 1, 2012 that the United States and Israel jointly developed the virus.

Ebrahim Norouzi / Associated Press

<a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.wired.com/about/press_bios/#chris_anderson'>Chris Anderson</a>, 'Wired' magazine's editor-in-chief, holds an <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.07/slammer.html'>article</a> that appeared in the July 2003 issue of the magazine. The article detailed the code of the Slammer worm, which infected more than 75,000 computers within 10 minutes when it was released Jan. 25, 2003. It slowed traffic for Internet users around the world and brought down the automated teller machine systems. The virus demonstrated the Internet's 'extraordinary vulnerability to that kind of attack.'

Slammer

Chris Anderson, "Wired" magazine's editor-in-chief, holds an article that appeared in the July 2003 issue of the magazine. The article detailed the code of the Slammer worm, which infected more than 75,000 computers within 10 minutes when it was released Jan. 25, 2003. It slowed traffic for Internet users around the world and brought down the automated teller machine systems. The virus demonstrated the Internet's "extraordinary vulnerability to that kind of attack."

Ben Margot / Associated Press

The Morris Worm

Robert Morris Jr. leaves federal court in Syracuse, N.Y., with an unidentified woman on Jan. 22, 1990. Morris was found guilty of computer-tampering laws in connection with a computer virus he created while a student at Cornell University. The eponymous virus, The Morris Worm, was, according to his father (famed mathematician and cryptographer Robert Morris Sr.), “the work of a bored graduate student.” The junior Morris is now a professor at MIT.

Michael J. Okoniewski / Associated Press

Melissa

David L. Smith, center, and his attorney Ed Borden, left, talk to a court official in the courtroom after Smith's hearing at the Monmouth County Courthouse in Freehold, N.J., on April 8, 1999. Smith was accused of, and later admitted to, having created the Melissa e-mail virus. Following his admission, Smith assisted authorities in thwarting other hacking attempts and, in exchange, was granted a lighter sentence.

Daniel Hulshizer / Associated Press

Blaster

Jeffrey Lee Parson, right, walks out of the federal courthouse in Seattle with his lawyers Carol Koller, left, and Nancy Tenney following his sentencing in the Blaster Internet worm case on Jan. 28, 2005. A federal judge took pity on the Minnesota teenager, sentencing him to just 18 months in prison for unleashing a variant of the Blaster Internet worm that crippled more than 48,000 computers in the summer of 2003.

Elaine Thompson / Associated Press

Melissa

Jeffrey Carpenter, left, leader of the Computer Emergency Response Team, and team member Shawn Hernan, center, who battled the outbreak of the Melissa computer virus from the Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, relax with the institute's manager of network survivability and supervisor of the response team, Thomas Longstaff, on April 2, 1999.

Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press

ILOVEYOU

Swedish computer experts Fredrik Bjoerck, left, and Johan Ekstrom, right, are shown in their office at Stockholm University on May 6, 2000. Bjoerck, who helped the FBI track down the author of the Melissa virus, said he believed the creator of the "ILOVEYOU" bug was a German exchange student who was bored. He was wrong. The ILOVEYOU virus, which was similar to Melissa, used e-mail with the subject line “I love you” as a conduit to send user names and passwords on infected computers back to the virus’s author. The virus was tracked back to a young Filipino student who was not charged due to there having been no laws in the Philippines to prosecute hackers.

Magnus Johansson / Associated Press

Featured Photo Galleries

Homeowner David Firth tries to beat back a brush fire heading towards his home at Bettas Road and Low Drive as wildfire burns Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012 in Cle Elum, Wash. The fire jumped the line they were trying to make but still stands after being sprayed with water trucks and further efforts to beat it back with the help of several neighbors volunteering. (AP Photo/The Seattle Times, Bettina Hansen) SEATTLE OUT, USA TODAY OUT, MAGAZINES OUT, TELEVISION OUT, NO SALES . MANDATORY CREDIT TO: BETTINA HANSEN/THE SEATTLE TIMES.

Residents evacuate as wildfires rage through the West

This year’s wildfires are more numerous and have gotten bigger than last year’s, an official says.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 16: Protesters gather outside the Ecuadorian Embassy, where Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks is staying on August 16, 2012 in London, England. Mr Assange has been living inside Ecuador's London embassy since June 19, 2012 after requesting political asylum whilst facing extradition to Sweden to face allegations of sexual assault. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Julian Assange granted political asylum by Ecuador

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was granted asylum on Thursday by Ecuador, raising the possibility of a diplomatic showdown between British...

Chase Culp of Houston checks his clown makeup before the performance of Circus Smirkus on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012 in Montpelier, Vt. Circus Smirkus, based in Greensboro, Vt., is an award-winning international youth circus founded to promote the skills, culture and traditions of the traveling circus.(AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

India Independence Day, Syrian air strikes, Western wildfires, plastination and more in the day in photos

News and feature images from around the world.

Cast member Charisma Carpenter poses at the premiere of 'The Expendables 2' at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California August 15, 2012. The movie opens in the U.S. on August 17. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT)

Eye on entertainment

Charisma Carpenter, Chuck Norris, Lionel Richie, Joe Jonas, Nelly, Alice Cooper and other celebrities.

US President Barack Obama drinks a Guinness beer at The Dubliner pub on March 17, 2012 in Washington. Obama went to the bar to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. AFP PHOTO/Brendan SMIALOWSKI (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

Hoppy days are here again

President Obama is making clear his love for beer on the campaign trail as he attempts to ferment a coalition of the swilling.

Scanned from Post archive. Washington Senators baseball players Goose Goslin, Manush, Kukel. 9/21/1933. No other info. TWP Photo.

The last time Washington was this good . . .

The Nationals have had the best record in baseball in August, starting to erase memories hardened by decades of mediocrity. Here are clues to...

Montreal Washington, of Kansas City, pets the dog she adopted, Friday, Aug. 10, during 'Tackle Pet Homelessness' at the Kansas City animal shelter in Kansas City, Mo.. Washington plans on naming the pit bull, Alexandra. The shelter is at capacity and is offering a $25 adoption special for all dogs 25 pounds or more. For the month of August, all cats are 'name your own price' and kitten adoptions are $50. (AP Photo/The Kansas City Star, Allison Long)

Homeless and adopted dogs, sand kittens, snow leopards and more in animal views.

Amazing creatures from around the world.

LEWISBURG, WV - AUGUST 11: ( EDITORS NOTE: Image was created using the iPhone 4s with Snapseed's vintage filter) Two young boys sip a drink at the West Virginia State fair on August 11, 2012 in Lewisburg, West Virginia. People from across the region travel to the fair, which is celebrating its 88th year, and hosts various events including equestrian and livestock demonstrations along with a full compliment of carnival rides. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

iPhone snapshots at the West Virginia State Fair

An iPhone captures the fun at the West Virginia State Fair, in its 88th year. All images were created using the Snapseed photo-editing app&rsquo...

Back to Previous Gallery

Discussion Policy | FAQ | About Discussions

Comments

Add your comment

Read what others are saying About Badges

SuperFan Badge

SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.

More about badges | Request a badge

Culture Connoisseur Badge

Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.

More about badges | Request a badge

Fact Checker Badge

Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.

More about badges | Request a badge

Washingtologist Badge

Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Writer Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.

Post Forum Badge

Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Weather Watcher Badge

Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.

More about badges | Request a badge

World Watcher Badge

World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Contributor Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Recommended

Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.

You must be logged in to report a comment.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.

More about badges

Get a badge

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.