Report: Iran's paramilitary launches cyber attack-The Associated Press

Report: Iran's paramilitary launches cyber attack (AP)--3 hours ago

Tehran, Iran (AP)--Iranian hackers working for the powerful revolutionary guards paramilitary group, the Basij militia launched attacks on the website of "enemies", the State-owned newspaper reported Monday in a rare acknowledgement from Iran, that is engaged in cyber war.

Report following the announcement in January that Iran had formed its first cyber police unit in an effort to obtain the benefit of the authorities in the digital world.

The Internet was also the main outlet for the Iranian opposition, whereas that in 2009 the disputed presidential election. In addition, Iran seeks to boost its Web defense after a computer worm Stuxnet its way into the computers with a controversial nuclear program in the country.

General Ali Fazli, representing the Commander of the Basij militia, cited a State Iran paper as saying Iran's cyber army is made up of university teachers, students and the spiritual. He said that their attacks were retaliation for similar attacks on Iran, according to the semi-official Mehr News Agency. There were no further details about possible targets or the time of the attacks.

"There are cyber attacks on us, so is our cyber army Basij militia, which includes the University teachers and students, as well as spiritual, attack on the enemy, '' said Fazli. "Without resorting to power the Basij militia, we were able to track and confront our enemies."

Meanwhile, Iran's Revolutionary Guard – military industrial powerhouse--believed linked to the secretive "Cyber army", which was formed to fight the opposition websites and blogs, after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has questioned re-election in 2009.

In February, the Chief of the guard, General Mohammad Ali Jafari, signaled that the force supports cyber army, describing the pledge "defence, political and cultural needs of all countries." Jafari said at the time that the guards successfully cyber warfare.

Iran is trying to learn the digital world as a decisive step to prepare for what it calls a "soft war", which includes the fight against cyber attacks, such as a computer worm Stuxnet, that Iran said was aimed at sabotaging its enrichment program.

Iranian officials claimed no obstacles in nuclear operations from Stuxnet but the November report of the UN nuclear agency, told a worm infiltration in Natanz nuclear facility to temporarily turn off Iran's enrichment program in communication possible.

The origin of the Stuxnet unclear. But it is a highly sophisticated malware is intended to be an attack on the industrial systems and would be aimed at a centrifuge used in the enrichment of uranium. Washington and the other with Iran eventually bring nuclear material for warheads, Iran insists that only seeks to enrich uranium for research and energy.

The country has been the growth of Western cultural influences while attempting the Hill in cyberspace against web savvy opposition groups. Opposition groups by using proxy servers and other tactics to stay in front of the offices.

Copyright © 2011, the Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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