Virus laden emails direct registry’s users to a fake website. All trading suspended until damage ascertained

The Danish CO2 quota register has been shut down since Tuesday after a spate of virus infected false emails were sent to registry users, reports Business.dk.

The Danish Energy Agency (DEA), charged with maintaining the registry, indicated that the closure has affected some 375 energy companies, together with 1200 private customers who speculate on CO2 quota trading in Denmark.

In cooperation with the EU and UN, the DEA has suspended all trading on the register until the eventual damage of the harmful emails is determined.

The viral attack did not involve the hacking of the register’s website directly, but instead targeted the users of the register, sending them an email virus purporting to originate from the DEA.

The agency is currently trying to determine how many registry customers have been affected and has warned more than 1500 users about the virus. In addition, the DEA has ordered the company hosting the fake website to remove it from the internet.