Foxconn, the chip giant best known as an Apple supplier, has confirmed press rumors: its Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin plant was hacked.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE FOXCONN ATTACK
According to the ransomware group Nitrogen, the loot amounts to 8 TB of data, or over 11 million files. “Among these are files such as confidential instructions, projects, and designs from Intel, Apple, Google, Dell, Nvidia, and many other projects,” reads the claims reported by the site AppleInsider (being an Apple supplier, the matter is understandably followed closely by that community).
WHAT THE HACKERS HAVE IN HAND
Nitrogen also published a collection of sample files as proof of their claims. A demo analyzed by AppleInsider states: “Apparently, the hackers stole financial documents related to Foxconn’s Houston, Texas plant. Documents concerning temperature sensors, integrated circuits, board layouts, and more were also stolen.”
“Furthermore — the report continues — the files seem to contain documentation on network topology related to AMD, Intel, and Google projects, including files related to server processors, sockets, and other components. The sample appears to contain mostly files related to Foxconn’s electrical engineering team.”
“It is unclear — AppleInsider admits — whether there are files directly linked to Apple projects, current or future. After all, this is not too surprising, since Foxconn’s Mount Pleasant plant mainly produces televisions and servers rather than Apple devices. Based on the sample provided, it does not appear that Nitrogen obtained Apple’s electrical schematics, documentation related to Foxconn’s Apple product development teams, or Apple’s quality control data.”
THE ATTACK ON MAY 2?
The local press recently reported a blackout on May 2 that caused production to halt at the Wisconsin plant. Most likely, the data theft occurred during that event. Reporting the attack ten days later, on May 12, Milwaukee outlet Tmj4 states: “Some workers told Mike Beiermeister of Tmj4 that operations are still heavily impacted.”
