Boeing’s Encounter with Cybercrime
Boeing, a prominent aerospace and defense contractor, encountered a cyber incident where internal data was exposed by the Lockbit cybercrime group. This gang, known for extorting organizations by stealing and releasing sensitive information unless a ransom is paid, claimed to possess significant data from Boeing and threatened to disclose it if a ransom wasn’t paid by November 2.
Lockbit’s Data Publication
Lockbit’s website recently posted data purportedly from Boeing, primarily from late October. Although Reuters hasn’t independently verified these files, Boeing acknowledged that parts of its distribution business were affected by a cybersecurity issue. The company confirmed the release of information by a criminal ransomware actor and assured ongoing investigations, involving law enforcement and relevant authorities.
Boeing emphasized its confidence that the incident doesn’t endanger aircraft or flight safety but refrained from commenting on whether sensitive defense data was accessed by Lockbit.
Lockbit’s Global Impact
Lockbit ransomware, initially surfacing on Russian cyber forums in January 2020, has targeted entities globally, including in the US, India, and Brazil, establishing itself as a highly professional criminal group, as noted by cybersecurity firm Trend Micro.
According to the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Lockbit has impacted approximately 1,700 US organizations. Recently, the US arm of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China fell victim to a ransomware attack believed to be linked to Lockbit, causing disruptions in the US Treasury market. Despite this, Lockbit’s dark web page, where it typically exposes victim names, did not mention ICBC.
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