BlackMatter (Russian hackers) Hits Grain Cooperative With Ransomware Attack

[Celerity]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-20/iowa-based-grain-cooperative-hit-with-ransomware-attack



Iowa-based grain cooperative New Cooperative Inc. was struck by ransomware in recent days and has shut down its computer systems as it tries to mitigate the attack. The attack occurred on or around Friday, according to Allan Liska, senior threat analyst at the cybersecurity firm Recorded Future Inc. The ransomware gang, which goes by the name BlackMatter, is demanding a $5.9 million ransom, Liska said.

New Cooperative confirmed that they had been attacked and said they had contacted law enforcement and were working with data security experts to investigate and remediate the situation. “New Cooperative recently identified a cybersecurity incident that is impacting some of our company’s devices and systems,” according to a statement from the cooperative. “Out of an abundance of caution, we have proactively taken our systems offline to contain the threat, and we can confirm it has been successfully contained.”

New Cooperative has communicated with its feed customers and is working to create workarounds to get feed to animals while its systems are down, a person familiar with the matter said. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

It is unclear to what extent New Cooperative’s systems have been affected. BlackMatter is believed to be linked to the ransomware group DarkSide, which attacked Colonial Pipeline Inc. earlier this year, triggering fuel shortages along on the East Coast. BlackMatter’s hackers are native Russian speakers and their code is in Russian, Liska said.

snip

BlackMatter ransomware targets companies with revenue of $100 million and more

https://therecord.media/blackmatter-ransomware-targets-companies-with-revenues-of-100-million-and-more/

[Champp]

1. And yet the Republicans still embrace Russia as their intimate fascist fakenews buddy

[Celerity]

2. openly, proudly

[Champp]

3. Republicans are systematicallyi attacking American democracy

and merrily staying snuggled in bed with Russia -- the country That their former Republican Saint Ronnie Reagan called "the Evil Empire." But nowadays Republicans worship their Casino Hustling Draft Dodger, who is deeply in debt to the Evil Empire--and the Republican sheep have all followed him there. Sad.

So if Republicans start making noises about this latest cyber attack on the Iowa grain coop, know that they are just blowing smoke to distract from the truth of where their true sympathies lie.

If Republicans love Russia over the USA then they can move their toxic, pestilent, unvaccinated, tax-breaks-for-the-rich, lying asses there now.

[Champp]

4. Sucker punch to the gut: Hackers Define 'Critical' as They See Fit

"...In messages with Bloomberg News, however, BlackMatter said it has rules for how it operates its ransomware operation, a sort of ethical playbook for an illegal enterprise.

"Hospitals, the defense industry and the government sector are off-limits, according to details on the group’s dark web page.

"The hack on Iowa’s New Cooperative, however, didn’t violate Biden’s mandate, the group says...."


https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-20/iowa-based-grain-cooperative-hit-with-ransomware-attack