Japan develops virus to counter cyber-attacks: But can it be used?
The Japanese Ministry of Defense has revealed its latest project to tackle hacking: a ’seek and destroy’ virus designed to track and disable the source of cyber-attacks.
The project, launched in 2008, cost $2.3 million over three years. Several companies competed for the contract, but Fujitsu was eventually commissioned to develop the new ‘cyberweapon’.
The virus has already undergone testing in a closed network environment. The major feature of the virus is the ability to trace down the source of cyber attacks, including ’spring board’ computers used in the attack. The idea is that the ‘cyberweapon’ will also be able to disable the attacking program and collect information.
