September 1, 2022

On Wednesday, Italian oil giant Eni SpA confirmed that the company’s networks had been hit by a cyberattack that happened few days ago.

However, Eni, Italy’s largest energy company, confirmed that the impact of the intrusion was minimal. The state-controlled company is now working with authorities to assess the consequences of the attack.

People who are familiar with the issue claimed Emi likely suffered from a ransomware attack. Ransomware is a type of malware that locks computers and blocks access to files in exchange for a ransom payment.

Attackers, who are known for ransomware attacks, use double extortion tactics to reach their target. Double extortion means that the attackers lock the systems and also exfiltrate data belonging to the compromised organizations.

“Ransomware groups are aware that to ensure continuity of services, energy companies may be willing to pay large ransom sums in exchange for unlocking the affected systems,” said Mirko Gatto, chief executive officer at the Italian cybersecurity firm Yarix.

The sources for this piece include an article in Reuters.