Electronics manufacturing giant Foxconn, which makes devices and components for Apple, Google, Nvidia and Sony among other tech giants, confirmed on Monday that it has been hit by a cyberattack that may have affected some of its factories.
In a statement sent to media outlets, Foxconn said the cyberattack affected facilities in North America, and “affected factories are currently resuming normal production.”
Ransomware gang Nitrogen claimed responsibility for the Foxconn breach in a statement on its dark web leak site, where the group publicizes its victims in an extortion attempt. Typically, if the victim does not pay, the hacking group publishes the stolen data.
Hackers claim to have stolen over 11 million files including confidential information
Foxconn’s customers include Apple, Dell, Google, Intel, Nvidia and others. As evidence, the hackers published several images of product plans, instructions and bank statements.
Nitrogen is A double-extortion ransomware group. This means that hackers encrypt files, making them inaccessible to victims, but also steal them first, threatening to leak the stolen data. This strategy effectively gives Nitrogen two ways to monetize their crimes.
Foxconn did not immediately respond to a series of specific questions about the attack.
