[German]Aurubis, Europe's largest copper smelter by its own account, fell victim to a hacker attack in the night from Thursday to Friday (Oct. 28, 2022). As a precaution, the IT systems in Hamburg were then disconnected from the Internet and shut down. Production, on the other hand, continued. The consequences of this attack are currently being investigated, and the company's share price has already fallen by three percent.
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I had heard the information yesterday evening at RND (German news media), but German blog reader Andy A. has send me the screenshot below this night. The German message, dated from October 28, 2022, says, that Europe's largest copper smelter, Aurubis, has become victim of a cyber attack on the night to Oct. 28, 2022.
In a now updated message, dated October 28, 2022, the company gives the (few) details known so far. According to this, the cyber attack on Aurubis' IT systems took place in the night of October 28, 2022 (it is unclear to me whether the attack was noticed then and not already running weeks before). Aurubis says that this was apparently part of a larger attack on the metal and mining industry.
As a result, numerous IT systems at Aurubis sites had to be shut down and disconnected from the Internet as a precaution. Production could largely be maintained, the company writes, and is currently determining the extent of the impact within the Group.
The primary goal, it said, was to keep production and the procurement of raw materials as well as the delivery of metals and products running. The group said that production and environmental protection facilities at the smelter sites continue to operate, and incoming and outgoing goods are also being maintained manually.
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Transitional solutions are currently being implemented in order to provide business partners with the company's full service again starting next week. Customers and suppliers can still reach their Aurubis contacts by phone. However, Aurubis cannot yet say when the facilities will be fully functional again. In addition, Aurubis is working closely with the investigating authorities.
The Aurubis AG
Aurubis AG (formerly Norddeutsche Affinerie), headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, is a listed copper producer as well as copper recycler. Following the acquisition of the Belgian copper producer Cumerio by Norddeutsche Affinerie AG in 2008, the company has been trading as Aurubis since April 2009. The company produces more than one million tons of copper cathodes annually, makes various copper products from them and employs more than 7,000 people. Sales in 2021 will amount to 16.3 billion euros.
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