12. Stuxnet – Digital Sabotage in the 21st Century
In 2010, the discovery of the Stuxnet computer worm marked a significant escalation in cyber warfare. Specifically designed to target supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, Stuxnet infiltrated Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility, causing centrifuges to malfunction by altering their speeds. This sophisticated attack led to the destruction of approximately 1,000 centrifuges, disrupting Iran’s nuclear program. Stuxnet’s precision and impact demonstrated the potential of cyber weapons to inflict physical damage on critical infrastructure, highlighting the evolving nature of digital sabotage in modern conflicts (britannica.com).
