FBI Warns Ransomware Attacks on Agriculture Co-ops Could Upend Food Supply Chain
Ransomware groups are looking to strike large agriculture cooperatives during strategic seasons, when they are most vulnerable, according to law enforcement.
![Man looking over farm field entering data into a mobile device Man looking over farm field entering data into a mobile device](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt6d90778a997de1cd/blt9a835dfc4203d1e9/64f124f419d32742116726cb/farmer-data-monkeybusinessimages-iStock_88684179_MEDIUM.jpg?width=1280&auto=webp&quality=95&format=jpg&disable=upscale)
Ransomware operators are eyeing attacks on large networks of farmers, called agriculture cooperatives, during make-or-break planting and harvest seasons, when they are likely most desperate to pay, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
A new advisory details previous attempts by threat actors since 2021 to disrupt agricultural co-op operations, including a Lockbit 2.0 attack on a critical farming supplier, and a July 2021 breach of a business management software company serving several agricultural cooperatives. Some of the attacks were successful and resulted in a production slowdown, the FBI says.
Another successful attack could affect the entire food chain, the alert warns.
"Cyber actors may perceive cooperatives as lucrative targets with a willingness to pay due to the time-sensitive role they play in agricultural production," the alert says. "Although ransomware attacks against the entire farm-to-table spectrum of the FA sector occur on a regular basis, the number of cyber attacks against agricultural cooperatives during key seasons is notable."
About the Author
You May Also Like
Catch the Threat Before it Catches you: Proactive Ransomware Defense
September 5, 2024How to Evaluate Hybrid-Cloud Network Policies and Enhance Security
September 18, 2024DORA and PCI DSS 4.0: Scale Your Mainframe Security Strategy Among Evolving Regulations
September 26, 2024Harnessing the Power of Automation to Boost Enterprise Cybersecurity
October 3, 2024
[Virtual Event] The Essential Guide to Cloud Management
October 17, 2024Black Hat Europe - December 9-12 - Learn More
December 10, 2024SecTor - Canada's IT Security Conference Oct 22-24 - Learn More
October 22, 2024