Tyson Foods, a global juggernaut in the food industry with over US$53 billion in revenue and a workforce of 142,000 employees, has reportedly fallen prey to a data breach orchestrated by the relatively obscure Snatch Ransomware group. The extent of the Tyson Foods data breach remains uncertain, as the perpetrators have yet to disclose the nature of the accessed data.
However, an unsettling message posted on Snatch’s Telegram channel suggests the group may be in possession of confidential information regarding Tyson’s future plans.
Tyson Foods has yet to confirm the incident or reveal any specific information about the ransom demands made by the attackers.
Uncertainty Surrounding Tyson Foods Data Breach
The Cyber Express Team’s attempts to verify the Tyson Foods data breach claim with company officials have, as of now, yielded no response. Tyson Foods’ official website remains fully functional despite the alleged cyber intrusion.
Speculation abounds regarding the scale of the Tyson Foods data breach, with some suggesting it might be confined to a minor system or a specific plant within the extensive Tyson Foods network.
The company’s global stature and substantial revenue raise concerns about the potential impact of this cyber intrusion on its operations. As a major supplier for fast-food chains such as KFC, Taco Bell, McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s, Tyson Foods plays a pivotal role in the meat industry.
Implications for the Meat Industry
The breach exposes the vulnerability of major meat producers to cyber threats, reminiscent of the disruption faced by JBS, the world’s largest meat processing company, which succumbed to a ransomware attack by the now-defunct REvil group, resulting in a temporary halt in US slaughtering plant operations.
Only after paying a ransom of around US$11 million, JBS successfully ended the ransomware attack that had affected its operations in various countries.
Notably, Maple Leaf Foods, one of Canada’s major producers of packaged meat products, experienced a system outage due to a cybersecurity incident in November 2022.
The company promptly engaged cybersecurity and recovery experts to investigate and address the situation, executing business continuity plans while anticipating a resolution that might lead to operational and service disruptions.
Snatch Ransomware’s Persistent Threat
While Snatch Ransomware may not be as widely recognized as some other ransomware groups, its activity since 2018 and the utilization of a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) distribution model, exploiting vulnerabilities in Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), highlight the persistent threat it poses.
Prior to the Tyson Foods breach, Snatch targeted many other organizations. In September 2023, the group targeted a government agency for veterans, posting about a cyberattack on the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs (FDVA) on the Dark Web. The department has not confirmed the cyberattack as of yet.
In the same month, the Snatch ransomware gang claimed responsibility for a ransomware attack on South Africa, exacerbating an already turbulent situation in the nation. The cybercriminals reportedly removed South Africa from their dark web blog.
In the aftermath of the Johannesburg fire, the South African parliament initiated an investigation, declaring its commitment to conducting a thorough inquiry into the tragic incident. The exact cause of the fire remains uncertain, leaving the community in a state of shock and mourning.
The Tyson Foods data breach highlights the constant risk of cyber threats facing large corporations and underscores the critical need for improved cybersecurity across all vulnerable industries.
Media Disclaimer: This report is based on internal and external research obtained through various means. The information provided is for reference purposes only, and users bear full responsibility for their reliance on it. The Cyber Express assumes no liability for the accuracy or consequences of using this information.