Deutsche Windtechnik Cyber Attack

German Windturbine company Deutsche Windtechnik was hit with a cyberattack that forced them to turn off its IT systems.

According to Deutsche Windtechnik, its IT team had to deactivate the company’s remote data monitoring connections to the wind turbines that were switched off for security reasons. The attack did not harm the company’s wind turbines, and regular activity was restored on April 14, with minor restrictions to its customers.

The forensic analysis has been completed and the result has shown that this was a targeted professional cyberattack,

Deutsche Windtechnik has over 7.5 thousand wind turbines under contract and employs more than 2,000 people. The company’s turnover last year amounted to $280 million. While the statement does not specify the type of attack against Deutsche Windtechnik, it was suspected as a ransomware attack.

The company’s IT systems were infected with malware. An electronic ransom note was found on Deutsche Windtechnik systems, demanding the company contact hackers to restore the system. However, the company managed to restore operation on its own.

Another German wind turbine operator, Nordex, was hit by a cyberattack on the last day of March. As a result, the company was forced to shut down ‘various IT systems.’

Ransomware group Conti claims it was behind the cyberattack that knocked out Nordex at the end of March. Conti announced support for the Kremlin after Russia launched a war in Ukraine