Cyber Incident Victim: 彰化縣肉品市場股份有限公司
Date:
Sep 2023
Location:
Taiwan
Summary
A cyberattack disabled the computer system of Changhua County Meat Market, encrypting files and displaying a ransom demand, which forced the suspension of auctions and prevented over 1,000 pigs from being processed. The company's operations were restored the following day after repairs, with no prior issues reported in the system developed by Academia Sinica. This marked the first closure due to a cyber incident affecting the auction infrastructure.
| CIA Posture | Motives | Tactics, Techniques & Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| Available to members | 2 motives | 1 technique |
| Threat Actors | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0 actors | Available to members | Available to members |
Description
On September 11, 2023, the Changhua County Meat Market Co experienced a disruptive cyberattack that rendered its computer systems inoperable. The attack encrypted the company's files and displayed a ransom note demanding payment for decryption, forcing an immediate suspension of all operations. This incident marked the first time the meat market halted operations due to a cybersecurity breach. Over 1,000 pigs scheduled for auction that day could not be processed, disrupting the supply chain. Company chairman Hung Jung-chang confirmed the systems were completely nonfunctional following the attack, describing it as an unprecedented event. The market's auction software, developed by Academia Sinica, had operated without prior issues according to company statements. Staff identified the intrusion when systems failed and the ransom message appeared, prompting management to suspend auctions and seek technical assistance.
Technical personnel restored the encrypted systems to normal functionality by September 12, 2023, one day after the initial compromise. The incident exclusively affected the auction management infrastructure, though specific restoration methods and ransom payment details were undisclosed. No secondary disruptions to meat processing or distribution facilities were reported beyond the auction suspension. The attack caused a full-day operational stoppage at Taiwan's critical livestock trading hub, with financial losses from delayed auctions unquantified in available reports. Changhua County Government publicly acknowledged the breach but did not disclose attribution or specific malware involved. Company leadership emphasized this constituted their first cybersecurity-induced closure since adopting the Academia Sinica-developed auction platform.