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Monju power plant facility PC infected with virus

25 Comments

A computer being used at the Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor facility in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, was recently discovered to have contracted a virus, and officials believe that some data from the computer may have been leaked as a result.

According to the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, which operates the facility, the computer in question was being used by on-duty facility employees to file company paperwork when the virus was first detected on Jan 2, TBS reported Tuesday.

Officials said that around 3 p.m., the computer began corresponding with a suspicious outside site. Although the computer contained many company-sensitive emails, employee data sheets and training logs, officials said they do not believe any safety-compromising data was leaked, TBS reported.

It is believed that the computer was infected with the virus when a video playback program was attempting to perform a regular software update. Personnel are investigating the cause of the incident and are creating plans to avoid any such potential safety mishaps in the future, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency said.

© Japan Today

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25 Comments
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I think they should let us know the software's name after the investigaton.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Why is a computer in a power plant on the internet? Japan is so stupidly stupid with IT security.

Guaranteed 100% of all the data on that computer has been leaked.

7 ( +11 / -4 )

a video playback program was attempting to perform a regular software update

Someone is probably watching porn or akb48 and forgot that the computer doesn't have anti malware.

13 ( +13 / -0 )

And not only after trillions of yen for a few minutes of power, the reactor continues to pose many, many more problems than it does even the POTENTIAL for benefit.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Homer!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Probably looking at dirty stuff.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

something related to stuxnet?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Time to change to a Mac. I really can't understand why 90% of the world persists with that Windoze crap!

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

... alarmist much? There's no mention of whether this computer was in any way connected to the power plant's actual functions. It seems from the report that it was just used for paperwork, and probably had absolutely no connection to the nuclear function.

What's next? "Coast Guard Computer infected!!" or "SDF computer infected!!"... this isn't reporting, it is pure and unadulterated fear-mongering.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

I agree with Disillusioned. This a non-issue if they were on OSX.

If they are like most government agencies here, they were probably still on Windows XP.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

This is right out of the Simpsons. So the next thing we learn is maybe that even the computers controlling the monju operation are connected to the internet? Crazy!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Whether it is Windows/OSX....., there will always be virus. There is no such thing as a safe OS. Giving time and resource, anything can be hacked. When majority of the world's PC are on OSX, then there will be more virus on OSX. After all, it is all cost and effort, same goes for hackers, same effort and hit millions, then that will be the first choice.

Even if you isolate the network, if the employees are not vigilant, the computer network could also be infected. A person can just stage a USB stick infected with virus around the place, someone will pick that up and first thing most people will do is to plug that into a computer.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Zichin, Happy new year!.

an answer to your Question:

Q: Why hasn't the Monju reactor already been shut and decommissioned?

A: Pride! Japanese Pride my Brother!!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Whether it is Windows/OSX....., there will always be virus. There is no such thing as a safe OS.

And yet millions of people use OSX every day, without anti-viruses, and without getting viruses.

So yeah, I'd say there is such a thing as a safe OS.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

And yet millions of people use OSX every day, without anti-viruses, and without getting viruses.

So yeah, I'd say there is such a thing as a safe OS.

But comparing to Windows, it is midget. OSX virus exists, it is rare but it does.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Why bother creating viruses for a platform that only 7.5% of PC users use, and very few businesses use? The lack of viruses affecting OSX is a sign of its lack of popularity, not how great it is. The same can be said about any other OS. When I had a Blackberry I never got any viruses, but why would I when less than 3% of smartphones are powered by Blackberry OS?

I'm sure if OSX ever becomes a larger competitor in the market, and makes serious steps into the business industry, it will have plenty of virus problems.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Actually, Android is the next main target for hackers. As more and more people starting to store sensitive information on his/her smart phone. Just be very vigilant. I use Linux (probably because I have been working in server/UNIX even since graduated from university - kind of bias with Windows and had mostly bad memory/experience with Windows from blue screen of death to each upgrade chew up more resource). Even though having a virus on Linux is a lot less likely than Windows, I still pay very close attention to things running on the system and ready to low level format and wipe out the entire system if needed. Sites from certain countries I will never go to. Email with links will be closely exam before clicking it. Never mind spam which is set up to automatic delete (not even save to any where).

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Actually the security of OSX lies in the underlying UNiX kernel. UNIX is an extremely secure system.

Security by obscurity - ie only having a small user base - would account for less viruses, but you'd still expect to see a number of viruses similar to its market share if it were as equally vulnerable as Windows. On top of this, hackers love a challenge, look at the guys who jailbreak iPhones. So you can bet that they would be hacking OSX if they could.

The very fact that there are almost no viruses whatsoever for OSX (I've only ever heard of one) shows that it is more secure than windows, and not only because it has a smaller market share.

I

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@Strangerland

Well, I have to agree that UNIX is a lot more secure than Windows and more efficient. However, it is not bullet proof, I used to work in a one of the main international companies that sell server HW to governments/banks.... supporting/enhancing/fixing UNIX kernel code. I can tell you that there are security holes and also got hit by hackers, just that it did not get that wild coverage as Windows and wouldn't crash the entire system like Windows would. Once in a while we received notice from US government to patch security hole within certain time limit.....

If you want really secure, then go for VMS.

Some hackers do like challenge, but most are looking for financial gain. It all boils down to cost. Hitting an OS with over 90% coverage including major financial institutes, that is a big potential gain and more profitable.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Time to change to a Mac.

Their applications aren't coded for Macs.

(And Apple stops supporting older systems early, making businesses systems obsolete in just a few years without costly upgrade turnover every other year.)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Their applications aren't coded for Macs.

That's the problem, isn't it.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

It never ceases to amaze me that the Japanese government offices are still running Windows XP. Windows XP is no longer supported by Microsoft and updates are non supported. The operating systems are not updated so therefore there will be more security leaks and breaches. This is going to become more and more of a problem! Windows XP was great and it's time, but that time has come and gone!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Hey Cliffy! There will NEVER be viruses in OSX because there is no where to hide them! In the last 15 years of Mac OS there has been two very minor viral attacks connected to the email apps and were removed within 24 hours of their discovery. You shouldn't make such outlandish claims based on a knowledge Windoze!

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

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