Iranian Oil Terminal Shutdown By Malware Attack

Huffington Post UK  |  By Posted: 24/04/2012 12:30 Updated: 24/04/2012 12:30

Iran has had to close one of its major oil facilities after it was shutdown by malware virus attacks, according to reports.

The BBC reports that Iran was forced to disconnect all oil processing facilities as a result. The Kharg Island facility processes more than 90% of Iran's exports, and was also apparently shut down.

However, the the attack on Sunday did not cause significant damage, according to Iran's Mehr News.

Ali Reza Nikzad-Rahbar, oil ministry spokesman, told Mehr News that important data of the ministry was not compromised, and that the ministry is well-place to defend against cyber attacks.

On Monday, Mehr News reported that a "cyber crisis management committee" was pulled together to deal with the attack.

Iran exports oil to Malaysia at a rate of 14,000 barrels a day and has just extended contracts in Asia and Africa.

“For the year 2012 all Iran’s contracts with Asian and African refiners for selling crude oil have been extended,” said Mohsen Qamsari, the national Iranian oil company director for international affairs told Mehr news.

Iran is thought to have been the target of a previous malware attack in January 2012. The Stuxnet "Trojan worm" was designed to attack industrial control systems produced by Siemen's AG, which could have included the Bushehr nuclear reactor.

Image: Anglo-Iranian oil refinery.

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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Fozwords
Abandon hope when you post on here
07:38 PM on 04/24/2012
Now thats a great way to beat them, do it to the North Koreans
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Norman Mitchison
06:20 PM on 04/24/2012
Oil is the root of all evil,superceding money.
05:12 PM on 04/24/2012
Oh what a shame!
02:38 PM on 04/24/2012
Once Iran has no income, Iran is bankrupt and this way Iran suffers and make it people suffer. This way Arab spring starts and civil war? Just like in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libiya and Syria NATO and UN gets it foot hold to defend civilians. Yes defend opposition civilians and kill ruling party civilians in their 99% numbers so no one left in ruling party to remain in power, problem solved. Dirty war to kill it population. If Israel in this, i think they are the most evil people where Hitler did this to them and they doing it to others which makes them equal in crime to harm other nation population. Iran is there well before any God came to planet. Iran is there well before Hitler and Jews. Iran is there well before any white man set his first foot in other parts of the world ever. Iran is there well before nations and boarders were made by people. Iran have taught us how to live side by side and Iran have given us life filled with peace. Yes they all have problems just like everyone else in the world, which call opposition party and i hope they do not managed to make Iran like Iraq, Afghanistan, Libiya, Syria and Africa.
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David Brown1949
Not waving but drowning.
04:58 PM on 04/24/2012
Iran still in the stone age. Why are there so many Iranians in London if Iran is so good?
06:34 PM on 04/24/2012
There are more Brits in Spain than Iranians in the UK. so whats your point?
Like it or not you can-not argue with godchild's persperctive and comment
07:05 PM on 04/24/2012
You had my attention until you say:"Iran is there well before any God came to planet." Even Richards Dawkins, who is not always logical outside of his science, would not agree with you. A pity you have nullify any sense you may have had in your piece.

"In The beginning [before the earth was developed] God...." Before the big bang some force organised the very dense, low entropy matter to explode, and from then entropy is increasing. Iran - an example of high entropy, like anywhere else, could not have existed before the origin of Earth or indeed God.