The world's largest meat processing company has been targeted by a sophisticated cyber-attack.
Computer
networks at JBS were hacked, causing some operations in Australia,
Canada and the US to temporarily shut down, affecting thousands of
workers.
The company believes the ransomware attack originated from a criminal group likely based in Russia, the White House said.
It follows a similar attack last month on the largest fuel pipeline in the US.
In
a ransomware attack, hackers get into a computer network and threaten
to cause disruption or delete files unless a ransom is paid.
The White House says the FBI is investigating the attack.
"JBS
notified [the White House] that the ransom demand came from a criminal
organisation likely based in Russia," White House spokeswoman Karine
Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday.
"The
White House is engaging directly with the Russian government on this
matter and delivering the message that responsible states do not harbour
ransomware criminals," she added.
JBS
said it suspended all affected IT systems as soon as the attack was
detected, and that its backup servers were not hacked. However many
affected plants are still unable to operate.
"Resolution of the incident will take time, which may delay certain transactions with customers and suppliers," JBS said in a statement.
According to the trade group Beef Central,
"supermarkets and other large end-users like the McDonald's burger
pattie supply network will be some of the most immediately impacted
customers, due to their need for consistent supply".
JBS, which is a Brazilian company, is the world's biggest supplier of chicken, beef and pork.
The
company's five biggest beef plants are in the US, and the shutdowns
have halted a fifth of meat production there, according to Bloomberg.
JBS
is also Australia's largest meat processor, with 47 facilities in
several states. The Australian Federal Police have launched an
investigation into the attack.
The company's Canadian plant in Alberta was also affected, with shifts cancelled for two days, according to a JBS Canada Facebook page.
However the company's South American operations have not been disrupted.
Last month, fuel delivery in the south east of the US was crippled for several days after a ransomware attack targeted the Colonial Pipeline. Investigators say that attack was also linked to a group with ties to Russia.
Colonial Pipeline has confirmed it paid a $4.4m (£3.1m) ransom to the cyber-criminal gang responsible.
The
US government has recommended in the past that companies do not pay
criminals over ransomware attacks, in case they invite further hacks in
the future.
