Industryweek 34489 Aluminum 1

Norsk Hydro Plans to Restart Some Systems After Cyber Attack

March 20, 2019
Company says it believes attack originated in U.S.

Norsk Hydro ASA said it made progress in securing its computer systems after the Norwegian aluminum maker was hit by a ransomware cyber attack.

The company plans to restart some systems in divisions that make finished metal, which should help it continue deliveries to customers, according to a statement on Wednesday. It has detected the “root cause” of the attack but didn’t know how long it would take to restore stable computer systems.

“Hydro still does not have the full overview of the timeline towards normal operations, and it’s still too early to estimate the exact operational and financial impact,” the company said.

The attack began in the early hours of Tuesday, forcing one of the world’s top aluminum makers to shut down several automated product lines and switch smelters to manual production processes. Hydro said yesterday that it didn’t know the identity of the hackers and believes the attack originated in the U.S.

The attack is the latest to hit the commodities sector, where disruptions can quickly cascade down the supply chain. Prior to Norsk Hydro, companies from zinc smelter Nyrstar NV to Saudi and Russian oil giants Aramco and Rosneft PJSC, shipping company AP Moller-Maersk A/S and agriculture trader Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. had been also hit by cyber attacks.

Hydro said the lack of ability to connect to production systems has caused issues in its extruded solutions and rolled products divisions.

“Progress has been made, with the expectation to restart certain systems,” the company said. This will “allow for continued deliveries to customers.”

Hydro is a leading supplier of aluminum products in North American and European markets, providing specialized parts to industrial customers. It has more than a dozen aluminum facilities in Europe, from Norway to the U.K., including those producing primary metal or using aluminum extrusion. The company’s market share in the extrusion segment is around 20% in Europe and 23% in North America.

By Sveinung Sleire

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

The Executive Guide to Best Practices for Ecommerce Integration

Oct. 2, 2023
Get ready to elevate your post-checkout experiences and thrive in today's unpredictable market. Learn why integration and automation are crucial to run operations more smoothly...

Legacy Phone Lines Are Draining Your Profits

Oct. 30, 2023
Copper wire phone line expenses that support emergency devices could be costing your company millions of dollars in wasteful overhead expenses. Rates have been skyrocketing while...

Digital Production Tracking: How Connected Platforms with No-Code Deliver Value

Sept. 19, 2023
Manual tracking lacks the real-time visibility manufacturers need to identify root causes and remain competitive. Digital, connected production tracking is crucial for your operations...

Is Your OT Safe from Attacks?

April 4, 2023
Attacks on PLCs and SCADA increased over 2000% in 2021. But IT security mechanisms don’t always apply to OT as-is, and OT systems are often easier targets. Learn how to create...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!