"FBI Warns Ransomware Attack Could Disrupt Food Supply Chain"

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a Private Industry Notification (PIN) warning organizations in the food and agriculture sector about an increase in ransomware attacks that could affect the food supply chain. The growing reliance on smart technologies, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and industrial control systems leaves the food and agriculture sector vulnerable to various types of cyberattacks that could disrupt operations. Such attacks have the potential to impact the entire food supply chain. The FBI emphasizes that all kinds of businesses in the sector, including farms, processors, manufacturers, markets, and restaurants, are at risk. Ransomware attacks are often accompanied by data theft, which could then be used to extort victims. According to the FBI's notification, food and agriculture businesses, when faced with ransomware, experience significant financial loss because of ransom payments, loss of productivity, and remediation costs. A ransomware attack may also cause these companies to lose proprietary information and Personally Identifiable Information (PII), as well as suffer reputational damage. The ransomware attack on the meat processing giant JBS is one of the high-profile attacks that have shown how disruptive ransomware can be. In January 2021, a U.S. farm was hit with a ransomware attack that incurred losses of about $9 million. This article continues to discuss the FBI's warning about ransomware attacks potentially disrupting the food supply chain, notable ransomware attacks against food and agriculture businesses, and how all organizations could prevent such attacks. 

Security Week reports "FBI Warns Ransomware Attack Could Disrupt Food Supply Chain"