Romanian energy supplier struck in ransomware attack in latest cybercrime assault

energy
(Image credit: David Reed from Pixabay)

  • Electrica Group said it recently discovered, and remedied, a cyberattack
  • Romanian Energy Ministry confirms ransomware attack
  • No groups have yet claimed responsibility for the attack

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 country’s 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

You might also like

Sead is a seasoned freelance journalist based in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He writes about IT (cloud, IoT, 5G, VPN) and cybersecurity (ransomware, data breaches, laws and regulations). In his career, spanning more than a decade, he’s written for numerous media outlets, including Al Jazeera Balkans. He’s also held several modules on content writing for Represent Communications.

Read more
An abstract image of digital security.
Orange confirms it suffered breach after hacker leaks company documents
ransomware avast
Engineering giant ENGlobal confirms hackers hit internal data
sewage water treatment
Southern Water denies claims it offered $750,000 ransom to ransomware hackers
Ransomware
Atos now says its systems weren't hit by a ransomware attack after all
ID theft
Hackers claim Orange attack, threaten to leak 1TB of data
ID theft
Tata Technologies confirms ransomware attack, says investigation still ongoing
Latest in Security
IBM office logo
IBM to provide platform for flagship cyber skills programme for girls
Hacker silhouette working on a laptop with North Korean flag on the background
North Korea unveils new military unit targeting AI attacks
An image of network security icons for a network encircling a digital blue earth.
US government warns agencies to make sure their backups are safe from NAKIVO security issue
Laptop computer displaying logo of WordPress, a free and open-source content management system (CMS)
This top WordPress plugin could be hiding a worrying security flaw, so be on your guard
Computer Hacked, System Error, Virus, Cyber attack, Malware Concept. Danger Symbol
Veeam urges users to patch security issues which could allow backup hacks
UK Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer
The UK releases timeline for migration to post-quantum cryptography
Latest in News
Samsung HW-Q990D soundbar with Halloween theme over the top
Samsung promises to repair soundbars bricked by its disastrous software update for free – but it'll probably involve shipping
Google Gemini AI
Gmail is adding a new Gemini AI tool to help smarten up your work emails
DJI Mavic 3 Pro
More DJI Mavic 4 Pro leaks seemingly reveal launch date, price and key features of the triple camera drone – here's what to expect
Android 16 logo on a phone
Here's how Android 16 will upgrade the screen unlocking process on your Pixel
Man sitting on sofa, drinking coffee, looking at phone in surprise
Thousands of coffee lovers warned to stop using their espresso machines immediately after reports of burns and lacerations
Visual Intelligence identifying a dog
AirPods with cameras for Visual Intelligence could be one of the best personal safety features Apple has ever planned – here's why