In February, Dole Food Company , a well-known fresh fruit and vegetable producer , reported that cybercriminals were responsible for a ransomware attack that affected the company's operations. Now, Dole says that the ransomware attack led to a data breach , after allowing hackers to access the confidential data of some employees .
Dole employs approximately 38,000 people in more than 75 countries worldwide, supplying its customers with the freshest produce.
In filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday, the company revealed that last month's cyberattack had a direct impact on data its employees'
“In February 2023, we were the victim of a sophisticated ransomware attack that included unauthorized access to employee information,” Dole said in the filing.
“Upon detecting the attack, we immediately took steps to contain it, retained the services of leading third-party cybersecurity , and notified law enforcement authorities.“.
The attack was announced on February 22nd after some customers complained about delays and shortages of Dole products on store shelves.
A memo sent to U.S. stores said Dole would implement a crisis management protocol that included what it described as a “Manual Backup Program.” This likely meant the company would revert to manual operations, which would help restart production and shipments (albeit at a much slower pace).
"All of our businesses are implementing our crisis management protocol to continue 'business as usual', including a Manual Backup Program if necessary. Please be patient and we hope to minimize this incident," Dole said.
The company had said the ransomware attack had limited impact, but it was forced to close plants manufacturing across North America.
“Dole Food Company is in the midst of a cyberattack and [we] have shut down our systems across North America. Our factories are closing for the day and all shipments are on hold,” the note said.
Cybercriminals continue to find new ways to exploit vulnerabilities and compromise network security. The growing threat of ransomware should not be taken lightly, and it is critical to be vigilant and proactive about protecting yourself. As we saw in the case of Dole, a attack ’ operations business. It often leads to a data breach (as here with Dole employees). It is increasingly important for businesses to be aware of the potential risks of ransomware attacks and data breaches and to take steps to prevent them.
Source: www.bleepingcomputer.com
