Uploaded October 2016 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
If you want to establish the seriousness of cybersecurity and the importance of the internet, Stuxnet is a great example. Stuxnet refers to a computer worm that was designed to interfere with uranium enrichment in Iran. It utilized several zero-day vulnerabilities to cause Iranian centrifuges to malfunction in what appeared like accidents. Although it has never been confirmed, Stuxnet is believed to be a highly-sophisticated joint US-Israeli cyberweapon. (To be clear: this discussion is in no way condoning cyberwarfare or any kind of warfare, or picking a side in this confrontation.)
Credits: Talking: Geoffrey Challen (Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo). Producing: Greg Bunyea (Undergraduate, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo).
Part of the internet-class.org online internet course. A blue Systems Research Group (https://blue.cse.buffalo.edu) production.
If you want to establish the seriousness of cybersecurity and the importance of the internet, Stuxnet is a great example. Stuxnet refers to a computer worm that was designed to interfere with uranium enrichment in Iran. It utilized several zero-day vulnerabilities to cause Iranian centrifuges to malfunction in what appeared like accidents. Although it has never been confirmed, Stuxnet is believed to be a highly-sophisticated joint US-Israeli cyberweapon. (To be clear: this discussion is in no way condoning cyberwarfare or any kind of warfare, or picking a side in this confrontation.)
Credits: Talking: Geoffrey Challen (Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo). Producing: Greg Bunyea (Undergraduate, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo).
Part of the internet-class.org online internet course. A blue Systems Research Group (https://blue.cse.buffalo.edu) production.
