Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has announced that its factories in the UK will remain closed until at least next week due to a cyber attack that was discovered on September 1. The incident resulted in the shutdown of production at its facilities in Solihull, Halewood, and Wolverhampton, affecting the company’s usual output of approximately 1,000 cars per day. Employees have been instructed not to report to work, resulting in a significant loss of global production over a two-week period.
In response to the cyber attack, JLR took measures to secure its IT networks, leading to an automatic halt in production lines due to the high level of automation in modern manufacturing and supply chains. This disruption has impacted dealerships, which typically experience a surge in sales during this time of year, and also affected garages that service JLR vehicles, initially hindering their access to necessary parts. Although some alternative solutions have been put in place to alleviate certain issues, disruptions continue across various operations.
The company has acknowledged that data may have been compromised in this incident, but it remains unclear what specific data was affected or who may be involved, including customers or suppliers. JLR has stated that it is conducting a forensic investigation and is in communication with the relevant regulators regarding the matter.
The hacking group “Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters” has claimed responsibility for the attack. This group was also involved in other incidents earlier this year targeting various UK retailers. The Information Commissioner’s Office confirmed that JLR had reported the breach to the UK’s data protection authority. Additionally, the National Cyber Security Centre, part of the UK’s intelligence agency GCHQ, has been assisting JLR since the attack’s discovery. Business Minister Chris Bryant is scheduled to meet with JLR’s chief executive to discuss ongoing developments. Local Members of Parliament will receive updates from the company in an online briefing.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3e712nvyz9o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss