Iranian oil industry hit by cyberattack

Iran is investigating a suspected cyberattack on its main oil export terminal and its oil ministry, Reuters has reported.

A computer virus struck the control systems of Kharg Island, which handles the majority of Iran's crude oil exports, according to the report. It also hit the communications systems of Iran's oil ministry and its national oil company, the semi-official Mehr news agency announced. Computer systems controlling Iran's other oil facilities were disconnected from the Internet as a precaution, the agency added.

The virus is likely to draw parallels with the Stuxnet worm, which breached industrial systems in Iranian nuclear facilities between 2009 and 2010. The attack highlights the vulnerability of industrial systems -- many of which include legacy technology manufactured before data breaches were a cause for concern -- to politically motivated actors and corporate espionage.