A cyber attack hit Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) disrupting export operations

A cyber attack hit Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) over the weekend, disrupting its export operations, according to Reuters. The company said the incident affected only its administrative systems and did not impact operations or oil output. PDVSA instructed staff to shut down computers, disconnect external devices, and cut off WiFi and Starlink connections, while security at facilities was reinforced.

The Venezuelan government framed the incident as an attempted aggression linked to alleged U.S. efforts to seize Venezuelan oil, rejecting the action as an attack on sovereign energy development. A PDVSA source told Reuters that a ransomware attack had been detected days earlier, and antivirus remediation efforts ended up disrupting the entire administrative system. The cyberattack occurred amid rising tensions after the U.S. seizure of a sanctioned oil tanker carrying Venezuelan crude. 16 December 2025.