New Internet Virus Targets Middle East
The Kaspersky internet security firm announced on Thursday that it has detected of a new kind of computer virus that has been targeting computers in Lebanon, Israel, and the Palestinian Authority.
According to the firm, the new virus, called Gauss, was designed as a spy tool, and that it was programmed using the platform of another computer virus, Flames, which was exposed earlier this year.
In the past, Kaspersky officials have determined that there was a clear link between Flame, Stuxnet – the computer worm reportedly used to target Iran’s nuclear facilities – and another virus by the name of Doqu.
What this means, is that Gauss could be another in a chain of cyber assault tools developed by a single country, or by a many countries.
According to the security firm, Gauss injects code into different internet browsers in order to track the users’ activities and steal passwords, “cookie” files, and browser history. In addition, it also collects information on the computer’s network connections and attached devices, which he sends to the virus’ control servers.
For more, go to Haaretz.com
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and the protests on college campuses.
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
