A ransomware attack has hit JBS USA, the world’s largest global producer of beef and poultry products.
In a press release on May 31, the company confirmed it was “the target of an organized cybersecurity attack, affecting some of the servers supporting its North American and Australian IT systems.”
Although JBS USA did not explicitly state ransomware was the cause, White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed in a statement to reporters it was.
Jean-Pierre said the White House was notified by JBS that the company was a victim of a ransomware attack. The White House and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have also been in contact with JBS leadership to offer assistance in the cyberattack.
Moreover, the attack against JBS not only crippled U.S.-based plants, it also delayed the USDA from releasing beef and pork wholesale prices in the agriculture markets. The USDA also issued a statement on June 1 regarding the ransomware incident in an effort to mitigate any potential supply disruption or price issues.
“USDA has reached out to several major meat processors in the United States to ensure they are aware of the situation, encouraging them to accommodate additional capacity where possible, and to stress the importance of keeping supply moving,” the USDA said in press release.
The ransomware attack is just the latest in a series of recent high profile ransomware attacks, such as Conti, Mount Locker, Darkside (Colonial Pipeline) and DearCry cyberattacks.
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