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Energy giant and bunker supplier Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) has issued a statement regarding the security of its computer network following claims by Globo television network yesterday that the US government spied on the Brazilian state-controlled oil company, citing classified information obtained by Glenn Greenwald, an American activist who has worked with former NSA analyst Edward Snowden.

In the statement, Petrobras said: "With respect to recent reports published aimed at Petrobras as a target of intelligence activities by the National Security Agency of the United States - NSA, Petrobras announces that it has highly capable systems that are continuously updated to protect its Internal Computer Network (ICN).

"The company consistently carries out all procedures seen and recognized as the best market practices to protect its internal network, its data and information. The traffic on the ICN and the flow of data between the ICN and the external environment (worldwide computer network) is permanently monitored by Petrobras.

"As an example, on average ninety percent of all external mail received by Petrobras is discarded because it has potentially harmful characteristics. Such characteristics may have possibly allowed some kind of access to Petrobras data. It is worth noting, however, that data contained in the company's files is continuously updated as hundreds of projects are in progress.

"The Petrobras workforce is constantly warned, through internal programs, about the importance of the correct classification of information and its treatment. Internal information is classified and treated with appropriate technological solution, such as encryption, for the level of protection associated with the risk of loss to Petrobras, if the information is leaked.

"Petrobras' investments in information technology and telecommunications are in line with its Business and Management Plan as well as other companies of the same size around the world in the oil sector.

"Competitive and other attacks become increasingly complex, which will continue to require constant and significant investment in technology from Petrobras to protect data and information."