After a two-year investigation into the details surrounding the Stuxnet virus, unleashed in 2008 against the Iranian nuclear program, journalists with Dutch newspaper Volkskrant have released a report saying the malware cost $1 billion to develop.
Besides the enormous price tag, the outlet said a Dutch spy was used to release the Stuxnet virus into the Iranian nuclear infrastructure.
The Dutch government told Volkskrant that the government understood the then-36-year-old Erik van Sabben was working to sabotage the Iranian nuclear project, however there was no knowledge of a cyber weapon of Stuxnet's consequence being used as part of the proceedings.
The malware was most likely hidden in a water pump he installed, the report concluded.
Van Stabben died just two weeks later in a motorcycle accident in Dubai, the report added.
It remains unclear whether he was aware of his role in deploying Stuxnet.
No foul play was suspected in Van Stabben's death.
This Cyber News was published on www.darkreading.com. Publication date: Mon, 08 Jan 2024 20:30:46 +0000