"Irish Food Giant Dole Admits Employee Data Breach"

A fresh produce multinational based in Ireland has revealed that employee data was compromised in a ransomware breach that hit the firm in February.  Dole employs nearly 38,000 staff across 30 countries and posted revenue of $9.2bn last year, making it an attractive target for online extortionists.  The company revealed that on February 22, the firm experienced a ransomware attack that had a "limited" impact on operations.  Little more detail was given at the time while the firm investigated the scope of the incident.  However, yesterday's new filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had more info.  According to the company, in February of 2023, they were the victim of a sophisticated ransomware attack involving unauthorized access to employee information.  The firm didn't reveal how many employees were impacted by the breach, but if hackers were able to exfiltrate personal information, it may increase the costs associated with the incident.  Dole admitted that as cybersecurity attacks become increasingly sophisticated and more frequent, their preventative measures and incident response efforts may not be entirely effective.  The company noted that since the incident, they have invested in security safeguards to reduce the risks to their networks, systems, and data.  However, they stated there is no assurance that their efforts will prevent cybersecurity attacks or disruptions.  Although the fresh fruit and vegetable giant claimed to the SEC that the incident had a "limited impact" on its operations, reports at the time suggested that the firm was temporarily forced to shut down production plants in North America and halt deliveries to stores.

Infosecurity reports: "Irish Food Giant Dole Admits Employee Data Breach"