Norway Hit By Major Data-theft Attack

Norwegian security officials say the Nordic country has been hit by one of the most extensive data espionage attacks in the country’s history.

The Norwegian National Security Authority says industrial secrets from the oil, energy and defense industries have been stolen and disseminated.

The agency says at least 10 different attacks over the past year were discovered and warns the real number is probably “far higher.”

Spokesman Kjetil Berg Veire said Thursday that the coordinated attacks seem to have been carried out by more than one person.

The agency said that in some cases individually crafted e-mails infected with viruses were sent to recipients to sweep entire hard-drives for data.