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Austria probes into suspicion of spying at hotel housing Iran nuclear talks

A Russian computer security company said it had detected a computer virus that was used to hack into sites of three luxury hotels in Europe that hosted negotiations on Iran's nuclear program
Geneva police officers block the street in front of the Intercontinental Hotel EPA/LAURENT GILLIERON
Geneva police officers block the street in front of the Intercontinental Hotel
© EPA/LAURENT GILLIERON

VIENNA, June 11. /TASS/. Austria’s Interior Ministry is probing into suspicion the venues of international talks over Iran's nuclear program were targets of cyber attacks, according to a ministry report published on Thursday by the Austrian Press Agency (APA).

The country’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism is leading investigations into hacking attempts at the Palais Coburg hotel in Vienna, the site of many rounds of talks between Iran and six world powers, the report said.

On Wednesday, Russian computer security company Kaspersky Lab said it had detected a cyber-intrusion affecting several of its internal systems. The computer virus was also used to hack into sites of three luxury hotels in Europe that hosted negotiations on Iran's nuclear program, it said.

Swiss authorities have launched their own investigations into hacks at the Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne, where related consultations were held.

Kaspersky experts believe that developing such a sophisticated method of spying certainly required a huge financial outlay and, probably, government support.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday the virus used was an upgraded version of Duqu, first identified in 2011. According to a number of security experts, the malware was designed by Israel for top secret spying operations.