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>> The deadly virus >> “changed the code” (the scare quotes bit) >> to invent a “vaccine” >> the secret formula... fell into the hands of Russia and Iran >>

>> The deadly virus >> “changed the code” (the scare quotes bit) >> to invent a “vaccine” >> the secret formula... fell into the hands of Russia and Iran >> increasingly stronger versions of the virus >> the most deadly version of the virus Is anyone else not wild about the manner in which "cyber" articles get written? I feel like non-technical readers are left mildly concerned that they're going to come down with a case of the stuxnet and die, or that now that Russia and Iran have a copy of stuxnet we're all doomed. Most of the language regarding the virus seemed more appropriate for an actual bioweapon. It'd be nice if there were a bit more focus on educating the public than scaring them.

S_A_P 11y ago
I chalked it up to a language barrier, but yeah, it was very dramatic language used to describe computer code...
iSnow 11y ago
That whole newspaper site seems pretty low-brow and clickbaity.
sangnoir 11y ago
MOst of the quotes made sense to me: >> “changed the code” (the scare quotes bit) Might not be scare quotes but a direct quotation >> to invent a “vaccine” This is pretty obvious - an antivirus >> the secret formula... fell into the hands of Russia and Iran They got a way to get the virus' signature, as well as copies to reverse-engineer >> increasingly stronger versions of the virus >> the most deadly version of the virus Might refer to virulence or how quickly the effects were ramped up. The most effective viruses are not the most transmissible (burn themselves out and/or are quickly noticed) > now that Russia and Iran have a copy of stuxnet we're all doomed not doomed per se, but it would probably be better for the average american if this hadn't happened. The worst thing about this, IMO, is that it set a very public precedent on the use of 'cyber-weaponry', costing the US moral high-ground
- BWStearns 11y ago
  With the exception of me missing that they were not scare quotes but rather direct quotes, I understood all of the referenced text. I just wanted to point out that the way it is written is not the best way to help inform the general public about cybersabotage and espionage campaigns. While using such language directed towards an expert crowd for giggles doesn't do any harm it contributes to the general atmosphere of panic to tell a general audience that Russia and Iran now have "the secret formula for the most deadly version of the virus". My parents don't know for sure that that virus won't kill you, computers are very scary for them, they might think stuxnet is in their car trying to kill them now.
Fomite 11y ago
If it helps, they're not much better at writing copy about actual viruses.
rqebmm 11y ago
>>> “changed the code” (the scare quotes bit) It wasn't scare quotes. It was an actual quote "US Vice President Joe Biden was quoted in the film as saying in a meeting that the Israelis 'changed the code' of the deadly virus’s software."
- BWStearns 11y ago
  My bad, I missed that as the context.
noobermin 11y ago
I just chuckled a bit at the name of the documentary: _Zero_Days_

S_A_P 11y ago

I chalked it up to a language barrier, but yeah, it was very dramatic language used to describe computer code...

iSnow 11y ago

That whole newspaper site seems pretty low-brow and clickbaity.

sangnoir 11y ago

MOst of the quotes made sense to me: >> “changed the code” (the scare quotes bit) Might not be scare quotes but a direct quotation >> to invent a “vaccine” This is pretty obvious - an antivirus >> the secret formula... fell into the hands of Russia and Iran They got a way to get the virus' signature, as well as copies to reverse-engineer >> increasingly stronger versions of the virus >> the most deadly version of the virus Might refer to virulence or how quickly the effects were ramped up. The most effective viruses are not the most transmissible (burn themselves out and/or are quickly noticed) > now that Russia and Iran have a copy of stuxnet we're all doomed not doomed per se, but it would probably be better for the average american if this hadn't happened. The worst thing about this, IMO, is that it set a very public precedent on the use of 'cyber-weaponry', costing the US moral high-ground

BWStearns 11y ago
With the exception of me missing that they were not scare quotes but rather direct quotes, I understood all of the referenced text. I just wanted to point out that the way it is written is not the best way to help inform the general public about cybersabotage and espionage campaigns. While using such language directed towards an expert crowd for giggles doesn't do any harm it contributes to the general atmosphere of panic to tell a general audience that Russia and Iran now have "the secret formula for the most deadly version of the virus". My parents don't know for sure that that virus won't kill you, computers are very scary for them, they might think stuxnet is in their car trying to kill them now.

Fomite 11y ago

If it helps, they're not much better at writing copy about actual viruses.

rqebmm 11y ago

>>> “changed the code” (the scare quotes bit) It wasn't scare quotes. It was an actual quote "US Vice President Joe Biden was quoted in the film as saying in a meeting that the Israelis 'changed the code' of the deadly virus’s software."

BWStearns 11y ago
My bad, I missed that as the context.

noobermin 11y ago

I just chuckled a bit at the name of the documentary: _Zero_Days_