Ballybofey Manufacturing Firm: Well-known Ballybofey company hit in ransomware cyber attack

Ransomware Attack Targets Ballybofey Manufacturing Firm

A well-known manufacturing company in Ballybofey, County Donegal, fell victim to a ransomware attack on the night of October 10, 2021, lasting into the early hours of October 11. Cybercriminals infiltrated the company’s computer network, freezing its systems and demanding a ransom for restored access.

The attack, which disrupted operations for several hours, prompted the firm to report the incident to both An Garda Síochána and the Data Protection Commissioner. Authorities confirmed an ongoing investigation but provided no further details on the response or whether the ransom was paid.

This marks the third ransomware attack on Donegal-based businesses in recent months, underscoring a growing threat in the region. Garda Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Cleary of the National Cyber Crime Bureau had previously warned local officials about the rising risk of such cybercrimes.

Source: https://www.donegaldaily.com/news/well-known-ballybofey-company-hit-in-ransomware-cyber-attack-422697

Ferm Engineering Ltd, Ireland cybersecurity rating report: https://www.rankiteo.com/company/ferm-engineering-ltd

"id": "FER1777955024",
"linkid": "ferm-engineering-ltd",
"type": "Ransomware",
"date": "10/2021",
"severity": "100",
"impact": "5",
"explanation": "Attack threatening the organization's existence"

{'affected_entities': [{'industry': 'Manufacturing',
                        'location': 'Ballybofey, County Donegal, Ireland',
                        'type': 'Manufacturing company'}],
 'data_breach': {'data_encryption': 'Systems frozen'},
 'date_detected': '2021-10-10T20:00:00',
 'date_publicly_disclosed': '2021-10-11',
 'description': 'A well-known manufacturing company in Ballybofey, County '
                'Donegal, fell victim to a ransomware attack on the night of '
                'October 10, 2021, lasting into the early hours of October 11. '
                'Cybercriminals infiltrated the company’s computer network, '
                'freezing its systems and demanding a ransom for restored '
                'access. The attack disrupted operations for several hours and '
                'prompted the firm to report the incident to authorities.',
 'impact': {'downtime': 'Several hours',
            'operational_impact': 'Disrupted operations',
            'systems_affected': 'Computer network'},
 'investigation_status': 'Ongoing',
 'motivation': 'Financial gain',
 'ransomware': {'data_encryption': True, 'ransom_demanded': True},
 'references': [{'date_accessed': '2021-10-11', 'source': 'Local news report'}],
 'regulatory_compliance': {'regulatory_notifications': 'Data Protection '
                                                       'Commissioner'},
 'response': {'law_enforcement_notified': 'An Garda Síochána, Data Protection '
                                          'Commissioner'},
 'title': 'Ransomware Attack Targets Ballybofey Manufacturing Firm',
 'type': 'Ransomware'}