Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
- Halliburton confirmed a cyberattack that forced the company to take its systems offline.
- The attack involved an unauthorized third party gaining access to certain systems, prompting Halliburton to activate its cybersecurity response plan.
Halliburton, a major oilfield services company, disclosed that it experienced a cyberattack that required taking its systems offline. The company became aware of the attack on Wednesday when an unauthorized third party gained access to its systems. In response, Halliburton immediately launched an internal investigation with external advisers to assess and remedy the situation. As part of their cybersecurity plan, certain systems were proactively taken offline to protect them, and law enforcement was notified. Although the company did not disclose the identity of the hackers or mention any ransom demands, the investigation is ongoing, focusing on restoring systems and evaluating the damage. The cybersecurity incident raised concerns about potential disruptions to the energy industry’s supply chain and consumers. Cybersecurity experts noted that taking systems offline could indicate a severe ransomware attack with uncontained malware infections. The CEO of a cyber investigation platform emphasized that critical infrastructure like the energy sector is increasingly targeted by attackers due to the significant impact any disruptions can have on the economy. The FBI, Energy Department, and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are monitoring the situation, with no reported signs of energy services being impacted. The incident underscores the growing threat of cyberattacks on vital industries and the need for robust cybersecurity measures to mitigate risks.
