The Norwegian company Tomra, known as the world leader in the field of waste processing technologies, has recently fallen victim to a large-scale cyber attack that affected some of its information systems. The company immediately reported the data breach to the relevant authorities and swiftly deployed both internal and external resources to contain and resolve the incident.
One of the company’s main endeavors is the Tomra Collection project, which is responsible for the collection, transportation, and processing of used containers for beverages in North America. Tomra Collection also facilitates mediation between all stakeholders, making a significant contribution to sustainable waste management practices.
“On Sunday morning [July 16], our IT specialists discovered unusual activity in our information systems indicating an external attack. We swiftly took measures to mitigate the issue by shutting down many of our systems. However, we do not have a complete understanding of the potential consequences of this cyber attack,” said Tomra.
As a result of the shutdown, Tomra acknowledges the possibility of reduced service stability for its customers and employees. The company’s top priority now is the speedy restoration of all systems to full functionality.
While discussing the potential consequences of the attack, Tomra mentioned service instability and slowdown without delving into details about the nature of the attack or possible data leaks and other negative repercussions. It is likely that the extent of the hackers’ infiltration is still uncertain, leading the company to refrain from premature statements.
Nevertheless, Tomra has promised to keep the public informed. Once the information has been verified, they will promptly share it with utmost transparency.
The breach of Tomra’s data is not an isolated incident in the waste processing industry. Hackers frequently target these companies, although such attacks often go unnoticed amidst a sea of other cases. Although these attacks may not make front-page news, they pose a real and growing threat.
Over the past year, extortion attacks on the processing industry have risen by almost 150%. Many of these attacks commence with phishing emails aimed at gaining access to employees’ accounts and infiltrating the corporate network with ransomware.
In addition to the obvious information loss and disruption to daily operations, extortion attacks also have a profound impact on a company’s reputation. For instance, a significant data breach or a prolonged system recovery period can tarnish the image of even the most reputable and sizable companies in the eyes of their customers, suppliers, investors, and regulators. This can result in substantial financial losses if customers opt to sever ties with the hacked company, undermining the brand’s value in the public’s perception.