Nichirei Hit by Cyberattack; "RansomHouse" Claims Responsibility on Dark Web, Demands Ransom

It has come to light that the hacker group calling itself "RansomHouse" is responsible for the large-scale cyberattack that caused system disruptions at major frozen food company Nichirei (2871.T). On the 21st, the group posted a claim of responsibility on the "dark web," a highly anonymous area of the internet, hinting at the existence of stolen confidential data.

The information was confirmed through interviews with multiple security officials. According to Nobuo Miwa, President of security firm S&J, who analyzed the statement's content, RansomHouse is a group that routinely uses ransomware, a type of malicious program demanding ransom. A defining characteristic of the group is its expertise in "double extortion," where it not only encrypts systems to halt operations but also steals critical data such as customer and supplier information from corporate servers before the attack.

President Miwa pointed out, "RansomHouse employs an extremely malicious method, pressuring victimized companies by threatening to 'release the stolen information if the ransom is not paid,' even if the company attempts to restore its systems from backups."

In the claim of responsibility posted on the dark web, RansomHouse is indeed calling on Nichirei to " us immediately if you wish to prevent the leak of confidential data." This suggests that the group has already gained control of some internal information, sending shockwaves throughout the entire food industry supply chain.

The impact of the system disruption caused by this cyberattack is not confined within Nichirei but is rapidly spreading to business partners in the restaurant and retail sectors. The paralysis of the frozen food supply network has led to secondary damage, including product shortages and sales suspensions reported at a wide range of companies, such as Japan KFC Holdings (9873.T), which operates Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in Japan, major retailer Aeon (8267.T), and conveyor-belt sushi chain Kura Sushi (2695.T). Currently, there is no clear timeline for the restoration of Nichirei's core systems, raising concerns that the impact will be prolonged.

In an official , Nichirei explained that it is continuing to work with external specialized organizations to investigate the full extent of the damage and carry out recovery efforts. However, the company has not disclosed whether a ransom has been paid or the specific nature of any potentially leaked data.

RansomHouse is an internationally active cybercrime group that has targeted medical institutions and infrastructure companies worldwide in the past. The fact that a major Japanese food manufacturer has now been targeted once again highlights the vulnerability of security measures for core systems supporting the supply chains of domestic companies.

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