JBS USA – the US subsidiary of Brazilian meat processing company JBS S.A. – has paid an US$11 million (around AU$14.2 million) ransom to hackers after a cyberattack disrupted its operations in the US, Canada, and Australia.
This was a difficult decision to make for the company, however, it was felt the decision had to be made to prevent any potential risk to customers.
The cyberattack was so debilitating that
JBS USA – the US subsidiary of Brazilian meat processing company JBS S.A. – has paid an US$11 million (around AU$14.2 million) ransom to hackers after a cyberattack disrupted its operations in the US, Canada, and Australia.
This was a difficult decision to make for the company, however, it was felt the decision had to be made to prevent any potential risk to customers.
The cyberattack was so debilitating that it threatened to disrupt food supply chains and inflate food prices in regions across the world. The attack also forced the company to cancel the shifts of employees at its US and Canadian meat plants.
It is understood that during a cybersecurity audit that took place between 2017 and 2018, the company hired outside experts to carry out a simulated cyberattack, or “penetration test,” to check its infrastructure for vulnerabilities.
The company maintained regular backups of computer systems so that in the event of a major breach or outage, they could recover their data.
The company was attacked by one of the most specialised and sophisticated groups in the world but was able to quickly recover and lost less than one day’s worth of production. The ability to quickly resolve the issues was due to heightened encryption and security of backup servers.
Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a victim’s files, rendering them useless unless a payment is made to unlock them. Some ransomware gangs also steal files, providing an extra avenue for extortion.
JBS’s networks have been restored and its plants are operating at full capacity.
JBS produces almost a quarter of America’s beef.
Read more about Insurances that are available that would cover ransom.
