Event description

An investigation is underway at F Oil Refinery. The reason was a significant drop in the operating capacity of the electric dehydrator. During the inspection, experts discovered that intruders had deliberately misconfigured the sensors measuring the water/salt concentration in the treated oil. As a result, substandard oil (with a high water/salt content) was supplied from the electric dehydrator to other units, which corroded both them and the pipelines.

The investigation revealed that the attackers had made the changes remotely through the account of a long-departed employee. A rival enterprise is suspected of being behind the attack.

Although it is difficult to assess the actual damage, experts agree that the planned overhaul of the main units will have to be carried out three years ahead of schedule.

Consequences

1. Damage to company property
2. Product quality deterioration
3. System failures

This has happened before

The New York Times

A cyberattack in Saudi Arabia had a deadly goal. Experts fear another try

A petrochemical company with a plant in Saudi Arabia was hit by a new kind of cyberassault. The attack was not designed to simply destroy data or shut down the plant, investigators believe. It was meant to sabotage the firm’s operations and trigger an explosion.