As technology continues to creep into every facet of our lives, like grey hair seems to be a continually festering issue, we are finding that there are plenty of new risks to consider in the consolidation of our convenience.
There are technological bottlenecks all around us these days, and hackers with poor intentions have seemed to find a way to exploit them for cash via “ransomware” attacks. These cyber-intrusions render computer systems unusable until such a time as a ransom is paid to those who did the intruding.
For maximum results, these hackers often target sensitive sites, like hospitals and infrastructure systems.
Now they’re messing with the meat industry.
The world’s biggest meat supplier was the target of a cybersecurity attack Sunday in the latest threat to global food supply chains that have been rattled by the pandemic.
JBS SA shut its North American and Australian computer networks after an organized assault on servers, the company said by email Monday. Without commenting on operations at its plants, JBS said the incident may delay certain transactions with customers and suppliers.
The attack sidelined two shifts and halted processing at one of Canada’s largest meatpacking plants, while the Australian Financial Review earlier reported that cattle and sheep slaughtering had been suspended at JBS’s operations in Australia, citing country manager Brent Eastwood. There were no immediate reports of plant disruptions in the U.S.
The incidents did not appear to affect ever JBS location, and reports have not yet indicated what sort of ransom the cybervillains were requesting.
