The ransomware assault, where hackers get into a computer system and threaten to cause disruption or delete files unless a ransom is paid, affected thousands of JBS employees nationwide – including JBS workers at the Greeley plant, that confronted two shift cancellations as a consequence of the cyberattack on Tuesday (June 1).
As stated by the Greeley Tribune, North American and Australian plants experienced an”coordinated” cybersecurity attack on Sunday, which impacted its informational systems worldwide.
“On Sunday, May 30, JBS USA determined that it had been the target of a coordinated cybersecurity assault, affecting some of the servers behind its North American and Australian IT systems,” that the meat-processing company wrote in a statement on Monday. “Resolution of the incident will take time, which may delay specific transactions with customers and suppliers.”
The Greeley JBS plant is the organization’s largest meat plant in the USA. Tuesday’s shift cancellations are said to have impacted an estimated 2,900+ employees in the plant.
A spokesperson from UFCW Local 7 confirmed Tuesday evening that Alter A employees will not work on Wednesday (June 2).
Employees who work change B or in shipping and hides, however, are expected to work normal hours.
“The JBS cyberattack is an assault on those who work to give food for our families,” Rep. Ken. “We must find out who’s responsible and hold them accountable. I’ll continue to monitor the situation and provide help to JBS here in southern Colorado.”
No confirmations are made regarding who might have instigated the attack, but the meat-processing company said it is working using a response company to restore all systems immediately. Brett Callow, a hazard analyst at the security company Emsisoft, said firms like JBS make perfect targets for these cyberattacks.
“They play a critical role in the food supply chain and hazard actors likely believe this increases their odds of obtaining a speedy payout,” Callow stated .
JBS constitutes 23 percent of all beef production in the United States, just topping rival Tyson Foods.
The JBS cyberattack comes shortly after hackers shut down performance of the Colonial Pipeline, the largest U.S. fuel pipeline, for nearly a week. Colonial Pipeline later affirmed it paid $4.4 million to the hackers.
