Saudi Aramco, who has the title of the world's largest oil company, has been struck by a cyber attack. The company has reported that nearly all of their workstations have been hit by malware, and the breach is said to be similar to the attack on Iranian systems back in Apri, but oil-production industrial equipment was not affected.

Saudi Aramco have said they've disconnected their entire network from the Internet as a precautionary measure, and expect a full recovery of their systems before the end of the week. The oil company hasn't said who is involved, but have insisted that the production of oil has not been altered as a result of the breach. The company said in a statement:

The company employs a series of precautionary procedures and multiple redundant systems within its advanced and complex system that are used to protect its operational and database systems.

There are other networks connected to the Aramco system, with companies Chevron and Schlumberger Ltd attached, and vulnerable. Most of the oil industry companies across the world have moved over to Windows-based systems during the Y2K scare, and could face similar problems. Also, the rapid expansion of Internet connectivity mixed with the nature of Windows has increased the chances of a cyber attack to the energy industry.