Norway PM warns of Russia cyber threat to oil and gas industry

Norway ’s prime minister warned last week that Russia poses “a real and serious threat” to the country’s oil and gas industry.

Norway ’s prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre warned that Russia poses “a real and serious threat” to the country’s oil and gas industry. The minister claims its country is going slow in adopting necessary measures to protect organizations and critical infrastructure operators in the energy sector from cyberattacks. The risks of sabotage and cyber attacks is high now that Norway is now the largest supplier of gas to Europe.

In a speech illustrating the threats to the industry, Støre cited the case of the arrests of seven Russians in Norway involved in the incidents in which drones were flown over energy installations in the country.

“One of the topics that has occupied many people in Norway now is the observation of drone flights in recent weeks. Seven Russians have been detained for flying drones illegally in Norway.” said the minister. “The police’s security service has now taken over the investigation of these incidents. They say the arrests may be an expression of Russia taking more chances in its intelligence work.”

“In the North Sea, the Norwegian Armed Forces sail together with our allies to secure Norwegian oil and gas installations, and all those who work there. The Home Guard is visibly present at the installations on land,” he added.

Norway’s prime minister warns of large-scale attacks that could hit the country’s critical infrastructure. Researchers pointed out that the petroleum industry only started this summer by introducing cyber security measures requested by the 2019 Security Act.

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Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs – hacking, Norway)

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