Posted on Jul 5, 2021
The Food Industry May Be Finally Paying Attention To Its Weakness To Cyberattacks
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https://www.npr.org/2021/07/05/ [login to see] /the-food-industry-may-be-finally-paying-attention-to-its-weakness-to-cyberattack
A recent ransomware attack on the world's biggest meatpacker is raising questions about cybersecurity in the food industry and about whether the industry is so concentrated in a few hands it is more vulnerable to sudden shocks.
The company, Brazil-based JBS, is a giant in the meat industry, with operations all over the world. The attack forced it to shut down several plants in the U.S. and Australia, which briefly rattled beef markets. But the plants soon came back online, and JBS downplayed the impact, saying it lost less than a day's worth of production. The company admitted it had paid $11 million in ransom to the hackers.
But according to John Hoffman, a senior research fellow at the Food Protection and Defense Institute at the University of Minnesota, the attack has continued to reverberate. Hoffman says he's receiving a wave of inquiries about cybersecurity from industry executives who previously were inclined to disregard his warnings.
A recent ransomware attack on the world's biggest meatpacker is raising questions about cybersecurity in the food industry and about whether the industry is so concentrated in a few hands it is more vulnerable to sudden shocks.
The company, Brazil-based JBS, is a giant in the meat industry, with operations all over the world. The attack forced it to shut down several plants in the U.S. and Australia, which briefly rattled beef markets. But the plants soon came back online, and JBS downplayed the impact, saying it lost less than a day's worth of production. The company admitted it had paid $11 million in ransom to the hackers.
But according to John Hoffman, a senior research fellow at the Food Protection and Defense Institute at the University of Minnesota, the attack has continued to reverberate. Hoffman says he's receiving a wave of inquiries about cybersecurity from industry executives who previously were inclined to disregard his warnings.
The Food Industry May Be Finally Paying Attention To Its Weakness To Cyberattacks
Posted from npr.org
Food/Chow
Hacking
Cyber
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
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What would be better is the heads of these companies face jail time for all of their law breaking and ineptness.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel This is an opportunity for the new administration to demonstrate it’s concern and ability to protect America from cyber attacks?
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
CSM Charles Hayden As Always How Willing are the Affected Parties to Accept this Administrations Assistance? You Can't Help if they Won't Let You.
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SFC Randy Hellenbrand
Totally right CSM. You really think the other party will let him?? Look at how they hollered about losing their freedom because of having to wear a mask. Anyway, let's hope so.
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