Special to WorldTribune.com

ABU DHABI — Saudi Arabia’s energy sector has been damaged by a cyber
attack.

Officials said the kingdom’s state-owned Saudi Aramco was the target of a major cyber strike on Aug. 15. The officials said the attack
damaged tens of thousands of computers but failed to hamper crude oil production.

“The [computer] work stations have since been cleaned and restored to service,” Aramco president Khalid Al Falih said on Aug. 27.

“We addressed the threat immediately, and our precautionary procedures, which have been in place to counter such threats, and our multiple protective systems, have helped to mitigate these deplorable cyber threats from spiralling,”

The cyber strike also forced the removal of one of Aramco’s websites. On
Aug. 15, a group called Cutting Sword of Justice claimed responsibility, and
said it tried to neutralize 30,000 computers at Aramco.

  Cutting Sword of Justice, Cyber attack targets Saudi oil production, Khalid Al-Falih, thousands of computers damaged