Security News > 2021 > August > FBI, CISA: Ransomware attack risk increases on holidays, weekends

The FBI and CISA urged organizations not to let down their defenses against ransomware attacks during weekends or holidays in a joint cybersecurity advisory issued earlier today.
While the FBI and CISA do not have any info regarding potential attacks within upcoming holidays and weekends, they gave as examples the attacks on the networks of Colonial Pipeline, JBS, and Kaseya.
JBS, the world's largest beef producer, paid an $11 million ransom to the REvil ransomware gang after a Memorial Day weekend attack.
One month later, a large-scale REvil ransomware attack also hit dozens of Kaseya customers and up to 1,500 other downstream businesses over the Fourth of July weekend.
In May 2021, over the Memorial Day weekend, a critical infrastructure entity in the Food and Agricultural Sector suffered a Sodinokibi/REvil ransomware attack affecting US and Australian meat production facilities, resulting in a complete production stoppage.
One month earlier, Deputy National Security Advisor Anne Neuberger warned US businesses to take ransomware seriously following the Colonial Pipeline and JBS ransomware attacks.
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