UK engineering giant Smiths Group investigating 'unauthorised access' to network

The U.K. engineering firm Smiths Group — whose operations span 50 countries across a range of sectors — has detected “unauthorised access” in its systems, the company informed the London Stock Exchange on Tuesday.

In a short notice to the exchange, Smiths Group said it “rapidly isolated affected systems and activated business continuity plans” after it detected the activity. The company did not say when exactly the incident occurred, which systems were impacted or if ransomware is involved. 

A Smiths Group spokesperson pointed to the company’s statement in response to questions from The Record. 

“Smiths is working with cyber security experts to recover affected systems and determine any wider impact on the business,” they said. “The Company is taking steps to comply with all relevant regulatory requirements. An update will be provided as and when appropriate.”

Founded in 1851, Smiths has more than 15,000 employees, and it reported fiscal 2024 revenues of about $3.89 billion. Its work supports a range of industries, including mining, oil and gas, clean energy and semiconductor testing. Its Smiths Detection arm builds security screening technology used in airports and other ports of entry.

The engineering and manufacturing sector is a popular target for cybercriminals, as well as nation-state hackers, because of the economic importance of the companies involved and the often sensitive nature of the work. In August, the Swiss industrial welding and machine manufacturer Schlatter Group investigated a “criminal cyberattack.” 

The French multinational Schneider Electric was hit with a ransomware attack in January 2024 affecting its sustainability wing.