Ransomware hackers claim breach at Foxconn, a major electronics manufacturer for Apple, Google, and Nvidia
Quick Answer
Foxconn, a major electronics manufacturer for Apple and others, confirmed a cyberattack by the Nitrogen ransomware group, which claims to have stolen over 11 million files, including sensitive customer data.
Quick Take
Foxconn, a major electronics manufacturer for Apple and others, confirmed a cyberattack by the Nitrogen ransomware group, which claims to have stolen over 11 million files, including sensitive customer data. The attack affected North American facilities, but production is resuming as Foxconn investigates the breach.
Key Points
- Nitrogen ransomware group claims responsibility for the Foxconn breach.
- Over 11 million files, including confidential customer data, were reportedly stolen.
- Affected facilities are located in North America and are resuming normal operations.
- The hackers threaten to leak stolen data if ransom is not paid.
- Foxconn has not provided detailed responses regarding the attack.
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Electronics manufacturing giant Foxconn, which makes devices and components for Apple, Google, Nvidia, and Sony, among other tech giants, confirmed on Monday that it was hit by a cyberattack that may have affected some of its factories.
In a statement sent to media outlets, Foxconn said that the cyberattack affected facilities in North America and that “the affected factories are currently resuming normal production.”
The ransomware gang Nitrogen claimed responsibility for breaching Foxconn in a statement on its dark web leak site, where the group publicizes its victims in an attempt to extort them. Typically, if the victim doesn’t pay up, the hacking group publishes the stolen data.
The hackers claim to have stolen over 11 million files, including confidential information from Foxconn customers, including Apple, Dell, Google, Intel, Nvidia, and others. As proof, the hackers published several images of what appear to be product schematics, guidelines, and bank statements.
Nitrogen is a double-extortion ransomware group. That means the hackers encrypt files, making them inaccessible to the victims, but they also steal them first, which allows them to threaten to leak the stolen data. This strategy effectively gives Nitrogen two avenues to monetize their crimes.
Foxconn did not immediately respond to a series of specific questions about the attack.
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