Oil giant Halliburton is dealing with a major computer system issue apparently linked to a cyberattack.
The company has acknowledged the issue, but has so far been unable to confirm whether a cyberattack was responsible. Business operations at the company's Houston campus and certain global networks have been affected, according to a person familiar with the matter (via Reuters).
A Halliburton spokesperson confirmed: “We are aware of an issue affecting certain company systems and are working diligently to assess the cause and potential impact.”
Halliburton suffers an alleged cyber attack
The company also noted that it has activated its pre-planned response protocol and is collaborating with leading external cybersecurity experts to address the situation.
Although further details have not yet been revealed, the incident highlights the growing threat of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, particularly in the energy sector.
Earlier this year, a ransomware attack on CDK Global disrupted the operations of thousands of car dealerships across the United States. Similarly, a 2021 ransomware attack on the Colonial pipeline caused widespread panic on the East Coast.
Eric Noonan, CEO of cybersecurity firm CyberSheath, noted (via CNN): “Critical infrastructure operators in the United States can decide how well they employ cybersecurity controls or not.”
The situation at Halliburton continues to evolve and the full extent of the disruption, as well as the potential long-term consequences, remains to be seen. At the same time, the energy industry, government agencies and cybersecurity experts will continue to closely monitor the rising threat of cyberattacks in order to increase protection against future similar attacks.
Halliburton reported revenue of $5.8 billion in its most recent quarter, up 0.7% quarter-over-quarter and 0.8% year-over-year.
