Israel announces ‘severe cyberattack’ on electric company

Israel’s Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz says Israeli Electric Authority is being targeted by a “severe cyberattack.”

Addressing the Cybertech Conference in Tel Aviv, Steinitz says the attack was discovered on Monday and that his ministry is “already handling it,” along with the Israel National Cyber Bureau.

“The virus was already identified and the right software was already prepared to neutralize it,” he sayd. “We had to paralyze many of the computers of the Israeli electricity authorities. We are handling the situation and I hope that soon, this very serious event will be over.

“This is a fresh example of the sensitivity of infrastructure to cyberattacks, and the importance of preparing ourselves in order to defend ourselves against such attacks.”

He doesn’t say whether Israel has identified any suspects in the attack.