Romanian energy supplier struck in ransomware attack in latest cybercrime
assault

Date:
Tue, 10 Dec 2024 11:24:09 +0000

Description:
Electrica Group claims to have addressed the problem already, and says
operations were not affected.

FULL STORY

Romanian energy supplier Electrica Group has confirmed suffering a 
cyberattack in the latest incident to hit major institutions in the country. 

In a press announcement, the company said it was investigating an ongoing
cyberattack together with the local law enforcement. 

The news comes days after Romania's government was forced to cancel elections
after its systems were allegedly targeted over 85,000 times by cyberattacks.

Confirmation from the Energy Ministry 

"We want to emphasize that the Group's critical systems have not been
affected, and any disruptions in interaction with our consumers are the 
result of protective measures for internal infrastructure," Electrica CEO
Alexandru Aurelian Chirita was cited saying. 

"These measures are temporary and are designed to ensure the security of the
entire system. Our primary priority remains maintaining continuity in the
distribution and supply of electricity, as well as protecting the managed
personal data and the operational data of all entities within Electrica
Group." 

The company did not detail the attack, its nature, goal, or the identity of
the threat actors, however media were notified by the countrys Ministry of
Energy that this was most likely, a ransomware attack. 

"Initial investigations show that it was a ransomware attack. The network
equipment has been removed and is not affected," Energy Minister Sebastian
Burduja allegedly said. "The SCADA systems of Distributie Electric Power
Romania are fully functional and insulated, and our technical teams, together
with our security partners, are already on the ground to eliminate any risk." 

Electrica Group is one of Romania's largest energy companies, focusing on
electricity distribution, supply, and renewable energy production. It serves
approximately 3.93 million households across 18 counties, covering about 
40.7% of Romania's territory. 

In 2023, the company reported revenues of RON 13.33 billion ($2.93 billion),
slightly lower than the previous year due to decreased electricity 
consumption nationally. The group is actively investing in modernizing its
network, integrating renewable energy, and improving operational efficiency,
with projects worth over 777 million RON completed last year. 

 Via BleepingComputer

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Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/romanian-energy-supplier-struck-in-rans
omware-attack-in-latest-cybercrime-assault

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