Iran: Computer worm could have caused huge damage

A senior Iranian military official involved in investigating a mysterious computer worm targeting Iranian nuclear facilities and other industrial sites said Saturday the malware could have caused large-scale accidents and loss of life.

It first emerged in September that Iran was battling a powerful computer worm known as Stuxnet, which has the ability to send centrifuges - used in nuclear fuel production - spinning out of control. Its appearance and the suspicion that Israel and the US might have been involved raised the prospect of covert attempts to thwart a nuclear program that the West fears is aimed at weapons production. (AP)