Security News > 2022 > April > FBI warns of ransomware attacks targeting US agriculture sector
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation warned Food and Agriculture sector organizations today of an increased risk that ransomware gangs "May be more likely" to attack them during the harvest and planting seasons.
While ransomware groups regularly target the US agriculture sector, the FBI noted that the number of attacks against such entities during such critical seasons stands out.
Ransomware attacks targeting agricultural cooperatives during key seasons could lead to operation disruptions, financial loss, and a negative impact on the US and global food supply chain.
"Ransomware attacks during these seasons against six grain cooperatives during the fall 2021 harvest and two attacks in early 2022 that could impact the planting season by disrupting the supply of seeds and fertilizer," the FBI said [PDF].
In a February joint advisory, the FBI, CISA, and the NSA also highlighted an increase in ransomware incidents impacting 14 of the 16 US critical infrastructure sectors, including Food and Agriculture.
"If the ransomware criminal business model continues to yield financial returns for ransomware actors, ransomware incidents will become more frequent," the advisory said.
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