News Technique
Hack attack has shut down Fendt factory for days
A large-scale hacking attack on the American Agco group has shut down the Fendt factory in southern Germany. No tractors can be produced since 5 May. Nearly all 4.000 employees have been sent home.
Agco, the parent company of Fendt, Massey Ferguson and Valtra, is located in Duluth, USA, but it is Fendt's factory in Marktoberdorf in Bavaria that was brought down by a large-scale hacking attack. According to the latest reports, machine production is still at a standstill after six days.
Multiple factories affected
All parts of the tractor production were affected, but also the parts department, for example. Malicious software (ransomeware) is installed on the computer systems of Fendt and Agco. The company does not say how long it will take for the IT systems to run again. The systems are 'held hostage' by the hackers and only released after payment.
An American spokesperson for Agco says more production facilities have been affected. It is not stated exactly what it is. French media made late last week notification of problems at Massey Ferguson in Beauvais. There, too, employees were sent home. There is also no mention of the total damage. Partly because the investigation is still ongoing.
Agricultural sector hit by hackers
Cyber attacks are not new, but they are not a common phenomenon in the agricultural sector. The FBI already warned in the United States at the end of last month against hack attacks specifically aimed at agriculture in the country. In 2021, two large agricultural cooperatives were hit by ransomware attacks. By doing this at critical times during sowing and harvesting, the hackers hope that companies will meet their demands sooner.
No more attacks since war
Also in Germany warns the national government for cyber attacks. Research has shown that since the war in Ukraine no more attacks have been carried out in the country by, for example, Russian hackers.
Niels van der Boom
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