Food processing giant JBS Foods has closed down production at multiple sites globally following a cyberattack.
According to Bleeping Computer, the incident impacted numerous JBS production facilities worldwide including those based in Australia, the US and Canada.
JBS is the largest beef and poultry producer globally and the second biggest global pork producer. The company has key markets in Australia, Canada, the US, the UK and Brazil among others.
There is currently no further information on the nature of the cyberattack. However, Bleeping Computer remarked that based on the hackers’ choice to go after the company’s systems over the weekend, there is a ‘high chance’ that ransomware was involved.
Australian Agriculture Minister David Littleproud was unable to confirm this potential hypothesis but warned the attack could have a ‘severe economic impact’ on workers at JBS’ offline production facilities, transportation hubs and distribution centers.
He said, “It will depend on how long this goes on for, and how long JBS are offline, for it is a supply chain that starts from the farm gate, right through to feed lots, to truck drivers.”
Australian Meat Industry Employees Union Queensland secretary Matt Journeaux added that thousands of JBS workers would be affected by the cyberattack in Australia alone due to not being able to return to work until the issue is solved.
Japan recently experienced two cyberattacks that were directed at the Fujitsu company and Greater Tokyo-based Narita Airport. Elsewhere, Belgium’s Federal Public Service previously claimed it had suffered a ‘complex, sophisticated and targeted cyberattack’ to its IT system.
Copyright © 2021 RegTech Analyst
Copyright © 2018 RegTech Analyst
