Produce giant Dole has been forced to shut down plants as a result of a ransomware attack that appears to have resulted in product shortages in some grocery stores. The company has acknowledged the attack in a statement on its website and has contacted law enforcement and external cybersecurity experts to help it investigate and address the incident.
Reports indicate that some stores have experienced product shortages, with one grocery store in Texas informing customers on Facebook that prepackaged salads were affected by the attack. According to Dole, the ransomware incident has forced it to shut down systems throughout North America, resulting in the halt of all shipments.
CNN reported similar problems at other stores, and a source told the outlet that Dole rushed to shut down systems to prevent the attack from spreading further. SecurityWeek has checked the websites of several major ransomware groups and has not found any mention of Dole, but hackers typically name and shame victims on dedicated websites only after initial negotiations fail.
It’s unclear if any data has been stolen from Dole systems. Recent data from blockchain data company Chainalysis showed that ransomware revenue plunged in 2022, although this type of cybercriminal activity remains profitable for many.
In recent months, law enforcement has made several arrests in connection with ransomware incidents and disrupted some ransomware operations. It remains to be seen if any of these steps will lead to a decrease in ransomware activity.
In conclusion, Dole has been forced to shut down plants as a result of a ransomware attack that appears to have resulted in product shortages in some grocery stores. The company has contacted law enforcement and external cybersecurity experts to help it investigate and address the incident, but it’s unclear if any data has been stolen. Recent data showed that ransomware revenue has dropped in recent months, but this type of cybercriminal activity remains profitable.
Key Points:
- Dole was forced to shut down plants as a result of a ransomware attack.
- The attack resulted in product shortages in some stores.
- Dole has contacted law enforcement and external cybersecurity experts to investigate and address the incident.
- It’s unclear if any data has been stolen from Dole systems.
- Ransomware revenue has dropped in recent months, but the activity remains profitable.