On Wednesday, Halliburton, a major U.S. oilfield services company, experienced a significant cyberattack that disrupted operations at its north Houston campus and affected global connectivity networks, according to sources familiar with the situation.
In an emailed statement, Halliburton acknowledged an issue impacting certain systems and assured that they are working with leading external experts to identify the cause and mitigate the effects. The company has advised some staff members to refrain from connecting to internal networks until further notice.
The attack represents another instance of the energy sector being targeted by cybercriminals. Halliburton, which operates in over 70 countries with nearly 48,000 employees, is a critical player in the global energy market, providing drilling services and equipment to major energy producers worldwide.
This incident follows a pattern of cyberattacks on the energy industry, reminiscent of the 2021 Colonial Pipeline attack, which led to widespread fuel shortages and a $4.4 million ransom payment. While details about the nature of the attack on Halliburton remain unclear, there are concerns that it may involve ransomware, a common tactic used by cybercriminals to encrypt data and demand payment for its release.
The growing frequency and severity of such attacks highlight the vulnerability of critical infrastructure and the ongoing threat to major U.S. companies across various industries.
