Workers at the U.S. division of JBS SA, the worlds biggest meat company, observed something incorrect in their computer systems over Memorial Day weekend, the informal kickoff for the busy summer season barbecuing season.
The perpetrator, a ransomware attack, didnt just hit its target– it roiled the U.S. food industry, from hog farms in Iowa to small-town processing plants and New York dining establishments. The hack set off a domino result that increased wholesale meat rates, backed up animals in barns and forced food distributors to hurriedly search for brand-new providers.
The attack was the most current clash between cybercriminals and companies integral to the performance of the U.S. economy. It was another disturbance to the U.S. food industry after the Covid-19 pandemic last year required weeks of plant shutdowns, and this year, an economic rebound has extended providers capability to satisfy demand.
After recognizing the incursion early on Sunday, May 30, JBS said it signaled U.S. authorities and set 3 objectives: identify which operations might be run offline; reboot systems using backup data; and tap specialists to deal with negotiations with the assaulters. On Memorial Day, May 31, JBS employees, FBI authorities and cybersecurity experts at JBSs U.S. headquarters in Greeley, Colo., worked to get systems back online.