A senior Iranian intelligence official says an estimated 16,000 computers were infected by the Stuxnet virus.<\/p>\n
The powerful virus targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities and other industrial sites in 2010, and Tehran has acknowledged the malicious software affected a limited number of centrifuges – a key component in nuclear fuel production. But Iran has said its scientists discovered and neutralized the malware before it could cause serious damage.<\/p>\n
The semiofficial Fars news agency on Saturday quoted a deputy intelligence chief identified only as Ahangaran as saying 16,000 computers were infected by Stuxnet, but he did not specify whether worldwide or just in Iran.<\/p>\n
He said Iran is facing difficulties obtaining anti-malware software because of international sanctions, forcing Iran to use its own experts to design the software.<\/p>\n