Latest news with #Rhode-Island-based


UPI
3 days ago
- Business
- UPI
FBI confirms hacker group behind Hawaiian Airlines attack
1 of 2 | A notorious hacker group is likely responsible for a recent cyberattack on Hawaiian Airlines that affected some of its IT systems, the FBI confirmed to CNN. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo June 28 (UPI) -- A notorious hacker group could reportedly be responsible for a recent cyberattack on Hawaiian Airlines that affected some of its IT systems. That incident and other cyberattacks "recently observed" by the FBI bear a resemblance to previous ones carried out by the Scattered Spider group, TechCrunch reported, citing a statement from the federal investigative agency. The airline confirmed the attack earlier this week but said neither its flights or passenger safety were affected. "As we navigate the ongoing event, we remain in contact with the appropriate experts and federal authorities," the airline said in its latest update. Scattered Spider is a group of English-speaking young adults and teens believed to be living in the United States and Britain. The group conducts large-scale phishing and ransomware operations in addition to other cyberattacks, usually against major corporations and their third-party IT contractors. The FBI confirmed the group's involvement in recent attacks, noting the airline industry remains vulnerable. "Anyone in the airline ecosystem, including trusted vendors and contractors, could be at risk," the FBI said in a statement to CNN. "Once inside (a victim's network), Scattered Spider actors steal sensitive data for extortion and often deploy ransomware." Earlier this month, a cyberattack targeting United Natural Foods Inc., caused a major disruption at Whole Foods. The Rhode-Island-based distributor is a major Whole Foods supplier, with the attack leading to empty grocery store shelves across the country. A week after the Whole Foods incident, international insurance company Aflac confirmed data and Social Security numbers of its clients were stolen by a hacking group. The company, based in Columbus, Ga., said the techniques used in the cyber intrusion closely resemble those used by Scattered Spider in previous hacks.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cyberattack cripples Whole Foods distributor, leaving shelves bare
June 12 (UPI) -- A cyberattack has crippled distribution channels for one of the nation's top organic food distributors, leading to empty shelves at grocery stores nationwide. Rhode-Island-based United Natural Foods Inc., a major supplier to Whole Foods, became aware of the attack on June 5th, a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission said. UNFI said the breach affected its ability to fulfill customer orders. "It's affecting operations in a very, very significant way," an employee at a Sacramento Whole Foods told NBC News. "Shelves don't even have products in some places. The shipments we receive are not what we need, or we did need it but it's too much of one product because UNFI can't communicate with stores to get proper orders." A spokesperson for Whole Foods apologized and said the company is working to restock the shelves as quickly as it can. In a statement, UNFI acknowledged the ransomware attack. "We have identified unauthorized activity in our systems and have proactively taken some systems offline while we investigate," UNFI said in the statement. "As soon as we discovered the activity, an investigation was initiated with the help of leading forensics experts and we have notified law enforcement. We are assessing the unauthorized activity and working to restore our systems to safely barring them back online." UNFI said it is working closely to keep its customers updated amid the confusion and distribution disruptions. At a quarterly earnings meeting Tuesday, UNFI CEO Sandy Douglas told investors that it is supplying customers on a "limited basis." "We are partnering with customers across the country and across our formats in various short term modes to serve their needs as best we possibly can," he said. "Any way that we can help them with their needs, we're doing." Douglas said the company is working with the FBI and other authorities to track the source of the breach and why UNFI's security systems failed. The UNFI security breach comes amid a series of cyberattacks on retailers in recent weeks that have crippled the operations of several high profile retailers with ransomware.


UPI
13-06-2025
- Business
- UPI
Cyberattack cripples Whole Foods distributor, leaving shelves bare
Half a decade ago, shoppers were met with long lines, empty shelves, food and water shortages due to the coronavirus pandemic at the Whole Foods Market in downtown Los Angeles in 2020. Now the company is dealing with similar problems because of a cyberattack on a distributor. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo June 12 (UPI) -- A cyberattack has crippled distribution channels for one of the nation's top organic food distributors, leading to empty shelves at grocery stores nationwide. Rhode-Island-based United Natural Foods Inc., a major supplier to Whole Foods, became aware of the attack on June 5th, a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission said. UNFI said the breach affected its ability to fulfill customer orders. "It's affecting operations in a very, very significant way," an employee at a Sacramento Whole Foods told NBC News. "Shelves don't even have products in some places. The shipments we receive are not what we need, or we did need it but it's too much of one product because UNFI can't communicate with stores to get proper orders." A spokesperson for Whole Foods apologized and said the company is working to restock the shelves as quickly as it can. In a statement, UNFI acknowledged the ransomware attack. "We have identified unauthorized activity in our systems and have proactively taken some systems offline while we investigate," UNFI said in the statement. "As soon as we discovered the activity, an investigation was initiated with the help of leading forensics experts and we have notified law enforcement. We are assessing the unauthorized activity and working to restore our systems to safely barring them back online." UNFI said it is working closely to keep its customers updated amid the confusion and distribution disruptions. At a quarterly earnings meeting Tuesday, UNFI CEO Sandy Douglas told investors that it is supplying customers on a "limited basis." "We are partnering with customers across the country and across our formats in various short term modes to serve their needs as best we possibly can," he said. "Any way that we can help them with their needs, we're doing." Douglas said the company is working with the FBI and other authorities to track the source of the breach and why UNFI's security systems failed. The UNFI security breach comes amid a series of cyberattacks on retailers in recent weeks that have crippled the operations of several high profile retailers with ransomware.