RansomHub Ransomware Hits Major US Beef Producer Harris Ranch
RansomHub Ransomware Attack on Harris Ranch Beef Company
Overview of Harris Ranch Beef Company
Harris Ranch Beef Company, based in Selma, California, is a prominent player in the beef production industry. Established in 1982, the company has grown to become one of the largest fully integrated beef producers in the Western United States. Harris Ranch annually produces and markets over 200 million pounds of beef, with annual sales exceeding $600 million. The company operates with a vertically integrated business model, controlling multiple stages of the production process from cattle breeding to the final packaging of beef products. This integration allows Harris Ranch to maintain high standards of quality, safety, and sustainability throughout their operations.
Details of the Ransomware Attack
Harris Ranch Beef Company has recently fallen victim to a ransomware attack orchestrated by the RansomHub group. The attackers have reportedly accessed 500 GB of the company's data and have threatened to publish the stolen information within the next 3-4 days. The attack was announced on RansomHub's dark web leak site, adding Harris Ranch to their list of victims.
About RansomHub Ransomware Group
RansomHub is a relatively new ransomware group that has quickly made a name for itself in the cyber threat landscape. Believed to have roots in Russia, RansomHub operates as a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) group, with affiliates receiving 90% of the ransom money and the main group taking the remaining 10%. The group has targeted various countries, including the US, Brazil, Indonesia, and Vietnam, without following a specific pattern. RansomHub's ransomware strains are written in Golang, a language choice that aligns with recent trends in the ransomware world.
Potential Vulnerabilities and Attack Penetration
While the specific method of penetration used by RansomHub in the Harris Ranch attack has not been disclosed, common vulnerabilities in the agriculture sector could have been exploited. These may include outdated software, lack of robust cybersecurity measures, and insufficient employee training on recognizing phishing attempts. Given RansomHub's use of Golang, it is possible that the attack involved sophisticated techniques that bypassed traditional security defenses.
Impact on Harris Ranch Beef Company
The ransomware attack on Harris Ranch Beef Company poses significant risks to the company's operations and reputation. With 500 GB of data potentially compromised, sensitive information related to their vertically integrated production process, customer data, and proprietary business practices could be exposed. The threat of data publication adds pressure on the company to respond swiftly to mitigate the damage.
Sources
See Halcyon in action
Interested in getting a demo?
Fill out the form to meet with a Halcyon Anti-Ransomware Expert!