Germany-based battery manufacturer Varta revealed on February 13 that production at five of its plants had been disrupted as a result of a cyberattack.
The attack was detected on February 12 and forced the company to shut down IT systems and disconnect them from the internet, which caused disruption to production, as well as to administrative processes.
“The extent of the actual damage cannot be determined at this time,” Varta said. “In accordance with the emergency plan for such situations, the necessary precautionary measures were implemented immediately.”
“Additionally, a task force was set up instantly to restore normal operations as quickly as possible and deal with the incident with the support of cyber security experts and data forensics specialists,” it added.
Varta manufactures batteries for the automotive, consumer, and industrial sectors. The company is present in 45 countries and regions around the world, and has production facilities in Germany, China, Romania and Indonesia.
Varta representatives told German media that the production sites impacted by the cyberattack are in Germany, Romania and Indonesia. Production was still reportedly halted on February 14 and the company could not estimate when it may resume.
The company’s brief description of the incident suggests that it could be a ransomware attack. No known ransomware group appears to have taken credit for the attack on Varta, but victims are typically named only after negotiations have stalled or failed.
Related: The Ransomware Threat in 2024 is Growing: Report
Related: Johnson Controls Ransomware Attack: Data Theft Confirmed, Cost Exceeds $27 Million
Related: Ransomware Payments Surpassed $1 Billion in 2023: Analysis
