According to a recent news report, in August, the oilfield giant Halliburton fell victim to a cyber attack, which, combined with severe storms in the Gulf of Mexico, impacted the company’s financial performance. The company’s CEO, Jeff Miller, revealed that as a result of the cyber incident, Halliburton’s earnings suffered a $0.2 per share decrease. In the third quarter, Halliburton experienced a $35 million hit due to the cyber attack.
The cyber attack affected the company’s free cash flow as delays in invoicing and payments occurred. To address the aftermath of the attack, Halliburton had to halt its share repurchase program. Despite these challenges, the company has maintained its cash flow and shareholder payment forecasts. Halliburton, being among the largest oilfield service companies globally, assured that its financial position remains robust.
Miller expressed gratitude to the employees for their dedication during the cyber attack and recognized the support received from customers. He commended the team for their ability to sustain operational activities amidst the adversities.
During the third quarter, Halliburton reported a net profit of $641 million on a revenue of $5.7 billion. Miller clarified that the cyber attack did not significantly impact the company’s overall financial performance. Chief Financial Officer Eric Carre reassured that Halliburton does not anticipate substantial additional expenses stemming from the cyber incident in the fourth quarter. The company aims to resolve all related issues by year-end.
The cyber attack was detected on August 21, resulting in system disconnections and data theft. RansomHub is believed to be behind the attack, causing widespread disruptions within the company. Halliburton clients faced challenges in generating invoices and placing orders due to the system outages. While Halliburton confirmed the breach, specific details and the extent of the attack were initially undisclosed, leading to customer dissatisfaction over potential business impacts and protective measures.