Ethical Hacking News
Romanian oil pipeline operator Conpet has disclosed a major cyberattack that disrupted its business systems and took down its website. The company has notified authorities and is working to restore affected systems, while the Qilin ransomware gang claims responsibility for the attack.
The Romanian oil pipeline operator Conpet was targeted by a major cyberattack that disrupted its business systems and took down its website.The cyberattack affected Conpet's corporate IT infrastructure, but not its operational technologies or ability to fulfill contractual obligations.The Qilin ransomware gang claimed responsibility for the attack, stating they had stolen nearly 1TB of documents from Conpet's compromised systems.The incident highlights the importance of robust cybersecurity measures and the need for organizations to prioritize their online security.The threat landscape continues to evolve, and organizations must stay informed and adapt their strategies to address emerging risks.
In a recent press release, Romanian oil pipeline operator Conpet disclosed that it has been targeted by a major cyberattack, which disrupted its business systems and took down the company's website. The incident occurred on Tuesday, causing significant disruptions to the company's operations.
According to Conpet, the cyberattack affected its corporate IT infrastructure but did not disrupt its operations or its ability to fulfill its contractual obligations. The company has stated that the operational technologies (SCADA System and Telecommunications System) were not affected, ensuring that the core business of transporting crude oil and gasoline through the National Oil Transport System continued to operate normally.
Despite this, the company's website was inaccessible due to the cyberattack. Conpet has notified the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) and filed a criminal complaint regarding the incident. The company is currently investigating the incident and restoring affected systems with the assistance of national cybersecurity authorities.
In a surprising twist, the Qilin ransomware gang claimed responsibility for the cyberattack earlier today, stating that they had stolen nearly 1TB of documents from Conpet's compromised systems and leaked over a dozen photos of internal documents containing financial information and passport scans as proof of the breach. This is not the first time that the Qilin ransomware gang has been involved in a high-profile cyberattack, as they have claimed responsibility for nearly 400 victims in the past four years.
The recent incident involving Conpet follows other notable ransomware attacks on Romanian organizations, including the Oltenia Energy Complex and Electrica Group. The country's energy sector has faced significant challenges in recent times, with several major companies being targeted by cyberattacks in 2024 alone.
In order to fully understand the implications of this cyberattack, it is essential to examine the broader context of cybersecurity threats facing Romania and other countries in Eastern Europe. In recent years, there has been an increase in state-sponsored hacking activities, with many organizations believed to be backed by nation-state actors.
These attacks often target critical infrastructure, such as energy companies, water management authorities, and transportation systems. The motivations behind these attacks can vary, but they often involve stealing sensitive information or disrupting operations in order to gain leverage over the targeted organization.
The recent incident involving Conpet highlights the importance of robust cybersecurity measures and the need for organizations to prioritize their online security. In addition to investing in cutting-edge security software and training employees on best practices, companies must also be vigilant about potential threats and take proactive steps to prevent breaches.
As the threat landscape continues to evolve, it is essential that organizations stay informed and adapt their strategies to address emerging risks. By doing so, they can reduce their chances of being targeted by sophisticated cyberattacks like the one suffered by Conpet.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Romanian-Oil-Pipeline-Operator-Conpet-Discloses-Major-Cyberattack-ehn.shtml
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/romanian-oil-pipeline-operator-conpet-discloses-cyberattack-qilin-ransomware/
https://www.theregister.com/2025/12/22/around_1000_systems_compromised_in/
Published: Thu Feb 5 09:27:10 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
