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Ecopetrol Says It Blocked Ransomware After Hackers Downloaded Data from 3,300 Accounts

The company warns the stolen files could hurt its finances, reputation or regulatory standing while investigators and prosecutors review the material

Overview

  • Ecopetrol detected unauthorized access to cloud file storage and stopped an attempted ransomware encryption before it could run.
  • The intruder downloaded data tied to about 3,300 user accounts across roughly 15 subsidiaries and then issued extortion demands to publish the files.
  • The company revoked the compromised access, blocked mass-download methods, analyzed attacker tactics, and increased monitoring under critical-alert protocols.
  • Ecopetrol has filed a criminal complaint with Colombia’s Attorney General and is working with national authorities, insurers and capital-markets advisers.
  • As of the report, the company has found no material disruption to operations but continues a detailed review of the stolen data and warns it cannot rule out future financial or reputational harm.