Japanese optical technology leader Hoya Corporation recently admitted (PDF) to being affected by an “IT system incident affecting the functional IT systems of our headquarters and several of our business divisions.” However, according to France’s LeMagIT, the incident would be better described as a ransomware attack, with Hoya facing demands for $10 million to unlock encrypted files and for the hackers to keep secret the data stolen during the security breach. Hoya is an essential player in the semiconductor industry as a leader in the development of products for EUV lithography. As a result, its trade secrets could be particularly valuable to rivals or sanctioned nations.
According to reports, the Hoya cyberattack was undertaken by ‘Hunters International.’ This group is thought to have formed after collaborative work between the FBI and law enforcement in Germany and the Netherlands dismantled the notorious ransomware-as-a-service group known as Hive. Despite the evidence, Hunters International denies any affiliation with Hive.
