Wednesday 19 July 2017

Hackers ‘probably compromised’ UK energy industry

The UK's energy industry is likely to have been targeted and “probably compromised” by state hackers.

A leaked memo from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) – part of intelligence gathering service GCHQ – specifically discussed threat to the energy and manufacturing sectors, according to technology site Motherboard, which obtained the document.

It cites connections from multiple UK addresses to systems associated with “advanced state-sponsored hostile threat actors” as evidence of hackers targeting energy and manufacturing organisations.

The document states: “NCSC believes that due to the use of widespread targeting by an attacker, a number of industrial control system engineering and services organisations are likely to have been compromised.”

ELN contacted NCSC and while it didn't confirm or deny the contents of the memo, a spokesperson said: “We are aware of reports of malicious cyber activity targeting the energy sector around the globe.

“We are liaising with our counterparts to better understand the threat and continue to manage any risks to the UK.”

Cyber attacks have also hit energy firms in Ukraine and Russia.