"Ransomware Hits a Food Supply Giant—and Underscores a Dire Threat"

The world's largest meat processing company JBS was hit with a ransomware attack that affected some servers supporting its North American and Australian IT systems. JBS facilities in Australia, the U.S., and Canada experienced disruptions. In response to the attack, JBS USA took impacted systems offline, reported the incident to law enforcement, and started working with an external incident response team on remediation efforts. This incident has caused some meat plants to shut down, employees to be sent home, and livestock to be sent back to farmers. According to the White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the ransomware attack was launched by a criminal organization likely linked to Russia. Katie Nickels, director of intelligence at the security firm Red Canary says that this ransomware attack against JBS serves as another reminder that ransomware is a serious threat that affects not only the cybersecurity community but also the average person. Following the cyberattack against the Colonial Pipeline that led to gas shortages and higher prices in the U.S., the JBS incident highlights the fragility of supply chains, whether they involve food, gasoline, or other essential products. Cybersecurity practitioners alone cannot combat ransomware. Policymakers must be involved in taking action against such attacks. This article continues to discuss the impact of and response to the JBS cyberattack, as well as the growing escalation of ransomware attacks and efforts to address this threat.

Wired reports "Ransomware Hits a Food Supply Giant—and Underscores a Dire Threat"