- TRITON Malware Remains Threat to Global Critical Infrastructure Industrial Control Systems (ICS)
March 24, 2022
The FBI is warning that the group responsible for the deployment of TRITON malware against a Middle East–based petrochemical plant’s safety instrumented system in 2017, the Russian Central Scientific Research Institute of Chemistry and Mechanics (TsNIIKhM), continues to conduct activity targeting the global energy sector. This warning follows the 24 March 2022 unsealing of a ...
- Oil & Gas Cybersecurity: Halt Critical Operation Attacks
March 15, 2022
The oil and gas utilities industry face threats from cyber incidents. The ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline in May 2021 had a huge impact on the industry. In February 2022, it was also reported that European oil facilities hit by cyber-attack and forced to operate at limited capacity. These latest incidents suggest that oil and ...
- Oil terminals disrupted after European ports hit by cyberattack
February 3, 2022
Port facilities in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands have been targeted by a large-scale cyberattack, authorities say. Officials say the hack began several days ago and has primarily disrupted operations at oil terminals, preventing tankers from delivering energy supplies. German judicial authorities say they have launched an investigation into suspected “extortion” of oil operators, amid soaring energy ...
- Shell forced to reroute supplies after cyberattack on two German oil companies
February 1, 2022
A cyberattack on two German oil suppliers has forced energy giant Shell to reroute oil supplies to other depots, according to Reuters and the Handelsblatt newspaper. Handelsblatt was the first to report on Monday that oil companies Oiltanking and Mabanaft, both owned by German logistics conglomerate Marquard & Bahls Group, had suffered a cyberattack that crippled ...
- Cyber espionage campaign targets renewable energy companies
January 17, 2022
A large-scale cyber-espionage campaign targeting primarily renewable energy and industrial technology organizations have been discovered to be active since at least 2019, targeting over fifteen entities worldwide. The campaign was discovered by security researcher William Thomas, a Curated Intelligence trust group member, who employed OSINT (open-source intelligence) techniques like DNS scans and public sandbox submissions. Thomas’ analysis ...
- The race towards renewable energy is creating new cybersecurity risks
January 14, 2022
The renewable energy industry is becoming more important as countries attempt to move away from fossil fuels, but the continued growth of the sector must be managed with cybersecurity in mind, or there’s the danger that vulnerabilities in everything from power plants down to smart meters could leave energy providers and their customers open to ...
- Arrest in Romania of a ransomware affiliate scavenging for sensitive data
December 13, 2021
Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) has supported the Romanian National Police (Poliția Română) and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in arresting a ransomware affiliate targeting high-profile organisations and companies for their sensitive data. The suspect – a 41-year-old Romanian national – was arrested today at his home in Craiova, Romania, in the early hours ...
- Colorado energy company loses 25 years of data after cyberattack while still rebuilding network
December 2, 2021
Colorado’s Delta-Montrose Electric Association (DMEA) is still struggling to recover from a devastating cyberattack last month that took down 90% of its internal systems and caused 25 years of historical data to be lost. In an update sent to customers this week, the company said it expects to be able to begin accepting payments through its ...
- Queensland government energy generator hit by ransomware
November 30, 2021
Queensland government-owned energy generator CS Energy said on Tuesday it was responding to a ransomware incident that occurred over the weekend. First reported by Energy Source & Distribution, the company said the incident has not impacted electricity generation at Callide and Kogan Creek power station, and it was looking to restore its network. ANZ regional director at ...
- Wind turbine maker Vestas confirms recent security incident was ransomware
November 29, 2021
Wind turbine maker Vestas says “almost all” of its IT systems are finally up and running 10 days after a security attack by criminals, confirming that it had indeed fallen victim to ransomware. Alarm bells rang the weekend before last when the Danish organisation said it had identified a “cyber security incident” and closed off parts ...
- 2 US defense officials say Israel hacked Iran’s gas system in late October
November 27, 2021
Israel carried out a cyber attack against Iran’s nationwide fuel system last month, two United States defense officials told the New York Times in a report published Saturday. Days later, Iran-affiliated hackers breached an Israeli LGBTQ dating site and released details of its users in a cyber attack that roiled Israel. The exchange points to a new ...
- Meet Lyceum: Iranian hackers targeting telecoms, ISPs
November 9, 2021
Researchers have provided a deep dive into the activities of Lyceum; an Iranian threat group focused on infiltrating the networks of telecoms companies and internet service providers (ISPs). Lyceum, also known as Hexane, Siamesekitten, or Spirlin, has been active since 2017. The advanced persistent threat (APT) group has been linked to campaigns striking Middle Eastern oil ...
- Mobile phishing attacks targeting energy sector surge by 161%
November 3, 2021
Mobile phishing attacks targeting employees in the energy industry have risen by 161% compared to last year’s (H2 2020) data, and the trend is showing no signs of slowing down. Although the perils of outdated and vulnerable devices plague all sectors, a new report by cybersecurity firm Lookout indicates that energy is the most targeted, followed ...
- India Releases Cybersecurity Guidelines for Power Sector
October 22, 2021
The Indian Government’s Power Ministry and the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) recently released cybersecurity guidelines to enhance the power sector’s cybersecurity readiness. It is the first time that cybersecurity guidelines are created for the sector. CEA, under the “Central Electricity Authority (Technical Standards for Connectivity to the Grid) (Amendment) Regulations, 2019”, framed the guidelines. Moreover, all ...
- New APT ChamelGang Targets Russian Energy, Aviation Orgs
October 1, 2021
A new APT group has emerged that’s specifically targeting the fuel and energy complex and aviation industry in Russia, exploiting known vulnerabilities like Microsoft Exchange Server’s ProxyShell and leveraging both new and existing malware to compromise networks. Researchers at security firm Positive Technologies have been tracking the group, dubbed ChamelGang for its chameleon-like capabilities, since March. ...
- The state of ransomware: national emergencies and million-dollar blackmail
September 14, 2021
Banks have been “disproportionately affected” by a surge in ransomware attacks, clocking a 1,318% increase year-on-year in 2021. Ransomware has become one of the most well-known and prevalent threats against the enterprise today. This year alone, we have seen high-profile cases of ransomware infection — including against Colonial Pipeline, Kaseya, and Ireland’s health service — cause ...
- API Releases New Standard for Pipeline Control Systems
August 30, 2021
On August 18, 2021, the American Petroleum Institute (API) released the third edition of Standard 1164, Pipeline Control Systems Cybersecurity. The edition has been in development since 2017—a result of expert input from over 70 organizations, including the US’s Department of Energy, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the American Gas Association. “The new edition API ...
- How Pipeline Owners and Operators Can Fulfill the TSA’s Second Security Directive
August 12, 2021
Senior officials at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), of which the TSA is a part, announced at the time of their security directive that they would soon require pipeline organizations to implement a new set of mandatory security controls or face financial penalties. In mid-July, CISA announced the rollout of at least some of those ...
- DHS Announces New Cybersecurity Requirements for Critical Pipeline Owners and Operators
July 20, 2021
WASHINGTON – Today, in response to the ongoing cybersecurity threat to pipeline systems, DHS’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced the issuance of a second Security Directive that requires owners and operators of TSA-designated critical pipelines that transport hazardous liquids and natural gas to implement a number of urgently needed protections against cyber intrusions. “The lives and ...
- Saudi Aramco data breach sees 1 TB stolen data for sale
July 19, 2021
Attackers have stolen 1 TB of proprietary data belonging to Saudi Aramco and are offering it for sale on the darknet. The Saudi Arabian Oil Company, better known as Saudi Aramco, is one of the largest public petroleum and natural gas companies in the world. The oil giant employs over 66,000 employees and brings in almost $230 ...