In the month of November, a string of ransomware attacks targeted various sectors, including municipal government, medical, and energy industries, underscoring the persistent threat posed by cyber criminals. Among the notable incidents that surfaced last month, one particular attack stood out for its disruption of the food service supply chain, shedding light on the far-reaching impact of such malicious activities.
The surge in ransomware attacks in November is indicative of a broader trend where threat actors target critical organizations, both large and small, within key industries. From regional hospitals in the southeastern U.S. to high-profile targets like Schneider Electric SE, no sector appears immune to the growing menace posed by cyber extortionists.
In one such high-profile attack, supply chain software vendor Blue Yonder disclosed on November 22 that it had fallen victim to a ransomware attack, leading to disruptions in its managed services hosted environment. The ripple effects of this incident were felt across various organizations, with significant repercussions. For instance, Starbucks faced challenges in tracking its workers’ hours, while U.K.-based supermarket chain Morrisons had to swiftly rebuild a new warehouse management system to safeguard its supply chain operations.
Despite the setbacks caused by the attack, Blue Yonder reported on December 1 that it was making progress in restoring services for impacted customers, with a dedicated effort to bring affected systems back online and resume normal business operations.
In a separate incident involving municipal and government entities, the city of Sheboygan, Wis., revealed that it had been targeted in a cyberattack that resulted in unauthorized access to its network by external actors. While the city assured that there was no evidence of sensitive personal information being compromised, it acknowledged receiving a ransom demand and pledged full cooperation with law enforcement authorities to address the issue.
The cyber threat landscape also extended its reach to the healthcare sector, with Memorial Hospital and Manor in Bainbridge, Ga., confirming a ransomware attack that impacted its electronic health record system. The hospital promptly initiated an investigation and transitioned to a paper-based process to ensure continuity of care for patients.
Additionally, the energy sector faced its own share of challenges as the Hellcat ransomware group claimed responsibility for targeting energy management giant Schneider Electric SE. While the group demanded a ransom following the unauthorized access to internal project tracking platforms, Schneider Electric assured that its products and services remained unaffected by the incident.
Furthermore, ENGlobal Corporation, a prominent player in project management and engineering for the energy industry, reported a ransomware attack on its IT systems in late November. The company took immediate steps to contain the breach, restrict access, and initiate remediation efforts, with ongoing investigations to assess the full extent of the incident’s impact on its operations.
Amidst the spate of ransomware attacks, organizations across different sectors grappled with the repercussions of these cyber intrusions, highlighting the crucial need for robust cybersecurity measures and proactive threat response strategies to mitigate risks and safeguard critical infrastructure against evolving threats in the digital realm.