Casio: Ransomware Attack to Delay Deliveries Through End of Year

Japanese watchmaker Casio has confirmed that product delivery delays will persist through November as it continues to recover from a significant ransomware attack. The attack, which occurred on October 5, has caused extensive delays in the repair and shipping of products, creating a backlog of customer orders.

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Casio announced that it is working toward restoring its systems by the end of November, but until then, the company has suspended acceptance of personal product repairs. The company will notify customers once the systems are restored and repairs can resume, The Record reports.

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Casio initially confirmed the ransomware attack on October 11, revealing that several of its critical systems had been rendered unusable. The "Underground" ransomware group claimed responsibility for the attack, boasting that they had stolen 204.9 GB of sensitive data, including employee and business partner information, and provided samples of the stolen data to back up their claim.

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In an interview with TechCrunch, a Casio spokesperson acknowledged the severe impact of the attack, stating that there was "no prospect of recovery yet."  

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The countermeasures the company implemented to mitigate the attack further affected its ability to manage supplier relationships and product shipments, though these issues appear to be confined to the Japanese market.  

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Casio has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the impact of the attack on its overall production capacity.

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The compromised data includes personal information belonging to temporary and contract employees, as well as individuals who applied for jobs at Casio. Data belonging to employees of affiliated companies and business partners were also accessed. Japanese police and data privacy regulators have been informed of the breach.

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Takeaway: Ransomware attacks have emerged as one of the most destructive threats to modern businesses, capable of bringing entire operations to a halt. When critical systems are seized and sensitive data compromised, an organization's ability to function is severely disrupted, leaving daily processes paralyzed.

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The recent ransomware attack on Casio is a prime example of the operational havoc these attacks can wreak, particularly on manufacturing companies. Similar incidents have affected industries across the globe, resulting in substantial financial losses.  

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Beyond the immediate disruptions from the ransomware attack, the steps taken to mitigate the impact often lead to further disruptions, as was evident in Casio’s case.

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The financial toll of a ransomware attack is staggering, with the average cost exceeding $5 million. This figure doesn’t account for potential lawsuits, reputational damage, lost revenue, and the ripple effect of interrupted production.  

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Moreover, companies may suffer the loss of intellectual property and regulated data, compounding the impact.

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Even for organizations that are prepared to respond to ransomware incidents, the theft or exposure of sensitive data creates significant liability risks. The majority of ransomware attacks today involve data exfiltration before system encryption.  

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Cybercriminals use the stolen data as leverage, threatening to release it publicly unless a ransom is paid. These “double extortion” schemes are increasingly common, with some threat groups abandoning encryption altogether in favor of pure data extortion.  

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The exposure of sensitive data—whether it’s customer information, corporate transactions, or proprietary patents—often leads to lawsuits, including class-action cases, and serious regulatory consequences.  

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The consequences of ransomware go far beyond operational downtime. Companies face lost revenue, missed business opportunities, and enduring reputational damage.  

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For many organizations, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the aftermath of such attacks can be catastrophic. Without the financial resources or technical capabilities to recover quickly, SMEs may be forced to close temporarily or even permanently.  

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Unlike larger corporations that can absorb the shock, SMEs often struggle to survive prolonged shutdowns, leaving them at risk of never fully recovering. Ransomware attacks not only disrupt the present but can threaten the long-term viability of a business, making them one of the most perilous challenges in today’s digital landscape.

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Halcyon.ai eliminates the business impact of ransomware, drastically reduces downtime, prevents data exfiltration, and enables organizations to quickly and easily recover from attacks without paying ransoms or relying on backups – talk to a Halcyon expert today to find out more. Halcyon also publishes a quarterly RaaS and extortion group reference guide, Power Rankings: Ransomware Malicious Quartile.