What you need to know
- Apple supplier Quanta has been hit by a ransomware attack.
- Hackers are demanding $50 million and have released product schematics online.
Update, April 21 (2:15 pm ET): Dell has responded to this report with a clarification.
Apple supplier Quanta has reportedly been hit by a ransomware attack, with a hacking group releasing MacBook designs online and demanding $50 million.
From The Record
The operators of the REvil ransomware are demanding that Apple pay a ransom demand to avoid having confidential information leaked on the dark web.The REvil crew claims it came into possession of Apple product data after breaching Quanta Computer, a Taiwanese company that is the biggest laptop manufacturer in the world and which is also one of the companies that assemble official Apple products based on pre-supplied product designs and schematics.In a message posted on a dark web portal where the ransomware gang usually threatens victims and leaks their data, the REvil gang said that Quanta refused to pay to get its stolen data back and, as a result, the REvil operators have now decided to go after the company's primary customer instead.
The report says 21 screenshots showing MacBook schematics were posted, and that REvil has threatened to post more each day until the ransom demands are met.
Quanta also supplies HP, Dell, Microsoft, Toshiba, LG, and Lenovo, REvil has reportedly suggested data from other companies might also surface online.
The report says that a source familiar with the matter says REvil is demanding $50 million. The attack was designed to coincide with Apple's Spring event in order to have the maximum impact. As reports have noticed, schematics currently posted do not seem to pertain to any unreleased products at this time.
Update, April 21 (2:15 pm ET) — Dell has responded to this report with a clarification.
Dell has responded to this report, clarifying that they do not have a relationship with Quanta and are not affected by the ransonware attack:
We do not have a relationship with Quanta Computer.
