The FBI accused Russia-linked agents of hacking the world's largest meat processor, saying it was 'working diligently to bring the threat actors to justice'

Employees are seen at a JBS meatpacker in Lapa, Brazil.

Reuters

• JBS said a ransomware attack forced it to suspend work at several slaughterhouses on Sunday.
• The FBI said Tuesday that the REvil hacking group was responsible. The group has links to Russia.
• REvil tried to extort Apple and Acer for $50 million earlier this year.
• See more stories on Insider's business page.

The FBI has accused a Russia-linked hacker group of carrying out a ransomware attack on the world's biggest meat processor.

JBS said on Monday that it was hacked by a suspected Russian entity on Sunday, forcing it to shut down production at several of its factories.

The company controls around 20% of US beef and pork processing, and major disruptions to supply chains were anticipated. However, most JBS slaughterhouse systems were fully operational again by Wednesday.

It is not known how much the hackers demanded, but the FBI said in a statement Wednesday that it believed the Russia-linked REvil hacking group, also known as Sodinokibi, was responsible.

"We have attributed the JBS attack to REvil and Sodinokibi and are working diligently to bring the threat actors to justice," the bureau said.

"We continue to focus our efforts on imposing risk and consequences and holding the responsible cyber actors accountable."

A JBS meatpacking plant in Greeley, Colorado.

AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File

On Tuesday, White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the White House was "engaging directly with the Russian government on this matter and delivering the message that responsible states do not harbor ransomware criminals."

Other business giants have been targeted by the REvil ransomware gang in recent months.

In April, REvil stole blueprints from the Apple supplier Quanta Computer and threatened to leak them unless Apple paid $50 million by May 1. It is unclear if Apple paid the ransom.

The month before, REvil hacked the Taiwan-based electronics company Acer, also demanding $50 million as a ransom, according to Bleeping Computer. It is unclear if Acer paid the ransom.

President Joe Biden said Tuesday that he would confront Russian President Vladimir Putin about the number of ransomware attacks linked to his country during their in Switzerland on June 16.

When asked by a reporter on Wednesday whether Putin was "testing" him with the latest ransomware attack, Biden simply said: "No."

The JBS ransomware attack is one of many high-profile cyberattacks the US has suffered this year.

In May, hackers targeted the Colonial Pipeline, a 5,500-mile conduit for gas from Texas to New York, which is responsible for providing the East Coast with around 45% of its fuel.

The hack disrupted East Coast energy supplies and prompted a run on fuel at gas stations.

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