Hack attack hits Norway

18 November 2011 - 18:56 By Sapa-AFP
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Hacking. File picture
Hacking. File picture

The biggest wave of hacking and espionage attacks in Norway's history has hit key defence and energy companies according to their National Security Agency.

At least 10 companies have over the past year fallen victim to hackers in a string of such similar attacks that they are believed to have been carried out by the same group, the NSM said in a statement.

"We have to suppose that the actual number (of victims) is much higher, but that many (companies) have not been in contact" with authorities, the agency said.

NSM said it was difficult to track down the perpetrators, who used servers based abroad in their attacks, refusing to point fingers at any suspects.

"This is the first time that a hacking campaign of this magnitude has been detected in Norway," NSM spokesman Kjetil Berg Veire told AFP.

The hackers in each case tried to gain access to the corporate network by sending seemingly legitimate emails to specific people, along with a well-concealed virus handing them remote access to the computer in question, according to the agency.

But each attack was "tailored" for the specific company, making it possible to escape detection by anti-virus programmes, it said.

The main targets of the attacks were companies in the oil, gas and overall energy sector, as well as in defence.

The names of the targeted companies were not divulged.

"The attacks have on several occasions come when the companies have been involved in large-scale contract negotiations," NSM said.

The attacks had allowed the hackers to gain access to documents, industrial charts, usernames and passwords.

According to Berg Veire, however, it is impossible to quantify the possible losses, as an overview of what had been taken was lacking.

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