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   Venezuelan oil giant PVDSA hit by cyberattack amid US conflict   
      
   Date:   
   Wed, 17 Dec 2025 13:05:00 +0000   
      
   Description:   
   The Venezuelan Oil Ministry has been hit by a cyberattack, which it believes   
   was carried out by the US.   
      
   FULL STORY   
      
   Venezuelan state-owned oil company Patroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) has claimed   
   it recently suffered a cyberattack at the hands of the US.    
      
   PDVSA says operations remain unaffected, but sources claim systems were taken   
   down and oil cargo deliveries suspended, Reuters reports.    
      
   The organization has struggled to restore key systems following the incident,   
   with staff told to shut down computers, disconnect WiFi, and cut off external   
   hardware connections, internal memos seen by Bloomberg confirm - with delays   
   to scheduled loadings and forced contingency measures across the company.    
      
   An escalating conflict   
      
   Although details are as yet unconfirmed, it seems likely this incident was a   
   ransomware attack given the instructions to disconnect WiFi, as this is    
   likely an effort to quarantine any affected devices or servers to stop   
   attackers from gaining further access.    
      
   US President Trump has since ordered a total and complete blockade of all   
   sanctioned oil tankers going into, and out of, Venezuela - which the   
   Venezuelan government calls a grotesque threat.    
      
   In a statement, PDVSA has categorically rejected what it calls the    
   "despicable act, orchestrated by foreign interests in collusion with   
   unpatriotic actors seeking to undermine the country's right to sovereign   
   energy development" [machine translated].    
      
   The organization goes on to explain; 'This attempted attack is part of the US   
   government's public strategy to seize Venezuelan oil through force and    
   piracy. The working class in the hydrocarbon industry has faced similar   
   attacks in the past.    
      
   This comes after the US seized an oil tanker from the coast of Venezuela    
   which it claims was, "used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela to   
   Iran". However, analysis of satellite imagery from ABC reveals location data   
   may have been deliberately manipulated to justify the seizure.    
      
   The US has moved warships into the region, with thousands of troops being   
   positioned by the US within 'striking distance' to Venezuela, and fresh   
   sanctions have been imposed onto more ships carrying Venezuelan oil.    
      
   "Nothing and no one will halt the victorious march of PDVSA and its working   
   class in service to all Venezuelans," the PDVSA concludes.    
      
    Via Reuters   
      
   ======================================================================   
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/venezuelan-oil-giant-pvdsa-hit-by-cyber   
   attack-amid-us-conflict   
      
   $$   
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