The world’s largest meat processing company has been targeted by a clever cyberattack.
JBS’s computer network was hacked, temporarily shutting down some businesses in Australia, Canada and the United States, affecting thousands of employees.
According to the White House, the company believes the ransomware attack was due to a criminal group likely to be based in Russia.
This attack can lead to meat shortages and higher consumer prices.
Ransomware attacks threaten to confuse or delete files unless a hacker breaks into your computer network and pays the ransom.
The White House states that the FBI is investigating the attack.
“Notify JBS [the White House] The ransom demand is probably from a Russian-based criminal organization, “White House spokesman Carine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday.
“The White House has negotiated directly with the Kremlin on this issue and has given the message that there are no ransomware criminals in the responsible state,” she added.
JBS: From regional players to multinational corporations
-
JBS is the world’s largest meat supplier with more than 150 factories in 15 countries.
-
Founded in Brazil in 1953 by rancher José Batista Sobrinho as a slaughter company.
-
The company currently has more than 150,000 employees worldwide
-
Its customers include McDonald’s in supermarkets and fast food restaurants.
-
In the United States, JBS processes nearly one-quarter of domestic beef and one-fifth of pork.
JBS said Made “significant progress” in resolving cyber attacks And he wanted most of the factory to go live on Wednesday.
The company said on Monday that it shut down all affected IT systems as soon as the attack was detected and that the backup server was not hacked.
The United Food and Commercial Workers’ Union, which represents JBS factory employees, has urged the company to continue to receive wages.
IT systems are essential in modern meat processing plants where computers are used at multiple stages, such as billing and shipping.
According to industry groups Beef Central“Other large end-users, such as supermarkets and McDonald’s hamburger patty supply networks, will be among the most immediately affected customers because they require a consistent supply.”
According to Bloomberg, JBS’s five largest beef mills are located in the United States, and the closure shut down one-fifth of meat production there.
The Australian and Canadian plants have also been affected, but the company’s operations in South America have not been interrupted.
Last month, fuel supplies in the southeastern United States were crippled for the next few days. Ransomware attacks targeting the Colonial PipelineInvestigators say the attack was also associated with groups linked to Russia.
Colonial Pipeline has confirmed that it has paid a ransom of $ 4.4 million (£ 3.1 million) to the responsible cybercriminal organization.
In the past, the US government has recommended not paying criminals for ransomware attacks in case a company invites further hacks in the future.