Foxconn has confirmed that it faced a cyberattack on its North American operations. A ransomware group known as Nitrogen has claimed responsibility for the attack and says it stole a large amount of data.
Hackers Steal 11 Million Apple and NVIDIA Files, Cyber Incident Reported
The hackers claim they took around 8 terabytes of data and more than 11 million files. They also say that some of this data is linked to major tech companies, including Apple, Dell, Google, Intel, and NVIDIA. Security experts are now carefully reviewing these claims to understand how serious the breach is and what information may have been affected.
Wisconsin Plant Operations Disrupted After IT Outage
The cyberattack caused major disruption at Foxconn’s Wisconsin manufacturing plant. On May 1, the company faced a serious IT outage that stopped normal work at the facility. Workers reported that the network went down early in the morning. By around 7:00 AM, Wi-Fi stopped working completely. Later, by 11:00 AM, important factory systems also shut down, affecting daily operations. Employees were instructed to switch off their computers and avoid logging back into the system until further notice. This shows the situation was serious and required fast action from the company.
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Hackers Claim 8TB Data Theft Linked to Major Tech Firms
The hackers claim they accessed private files, internal documents, and technical drawings. These files are said to be connected to several major technology companies. Some of the leaked samples reportedly match parts used in hardware made for Google. If this is true, the information could be sensitive for companies and their supply chains. Experts warn that leaked design files could allow competitors to copy product ideas. It may also help attackers find weak points in systems that are not yet known. This highlights growing concerns around AI cyberattacks warning.
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Nitrogen Ransomware Group Behind Cyberattack
The group behind the attack, Nitrogen, operates as a ransomware-as-a-service network. This means it provides tools and support to other cybercriminals who carry out attacks. Researchers say the group is linked to Eastern European cybercrime networks. It may also be connected to older ransomware code from the Conti group. Security researchers have also warned that the group’s tools may contain technical issues. These problems could affect how victims recover their encrypted data.
Foxconn has said that its affected factories are now slowly returning to normal operations. The company is working to restore full system access and stabilize production. However, Foxconn has not confirmed whether customer or partner data was actually stolen in this incident. Investigations are still ongoing.
This is not the first time Foxconn has been targeted. The company also faced ransomware attacks in 2022 and 2024, showing that cyber threats continue over time. Cybersecurity experts say attacks on large global companies are increasing. This case highlights the growing importance of strong digital security across the tech supply chain. News source eTimes Pakistan.
