Production of certain Honda vehicles ran into another roadblock on Monday, as the automaker claims it was the victim of a cyber attack.
Reuters reports that production ceased at many of Honda’s manufacturing facilities in the wake of the suspected attack out of fear that quality control processes may have been compromised.
After dealing with supply chain issues since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, not to mention the resulting production shutdown in North America and depressed sales across the globe, a cyber breach is the last thing the automaker needs.
A company spokesperson told Reuters that the ransomware targeted the company’s internal servers.
From Reuters:
Production resumed at most of the plants by Tuesday, but its main plant in Ohio, as well as those in Turkey, India and Brazil remain suspended as the ransomware disputed the company’s production systems, he said.
Honda Manufacturing of Ohio builds the Honda Accord and CR-V, as well as the Acura ILX and TLX sedans and RDX and MDX crossovers. The NSX rolls out of Marysville, too, but production of that vehicle can handle sudden downtime without inconveniencing many customers. In total, Honda boasts five U.S. auto assembly plants, in addition to numerous components plants and facilities for everything from lawnmowers to aircraft.
BBC reports that Honda confirmed the attack, adding that the “virus had spread” throughout its network.
“Work is being undertaken to minimize the impact and to restore full functionality of production, sales and development activities,” the automaker stated.
Who exactly staged the attack remains anyone’s guess, and likely will for all time.
[Image: Honda]
“the ransomware disputed the company’s production systems”
Now I know why my 05 Odyssey was a lemon. Some ransomware had an argument with Honda’s quality control computers.
“quality control processes may have been compromised.”
To have that compromised, first, you need to have it. When you look at fit of panels in Honda, you might question about this process existence
Cost cutting. American companies went through that much earlier.
What I’m wondering is if there are any “editors” left any more! Or has every reporter at every news outlet been working from home and creating their stories on flip-phones or Crack-Berries with chiclet keyboards?! Because the number of these types of errors I’ve seen get published in the past couple of years has definitely increased, and in the COVID-19 era, the numbers are downright stupefying!
Cyber Attack? Why would Cybers want to attack such a nice car company?
21st century version of bandana’d robbers of the stage coach.
“Yippee-Ki-Yay, cyberf^ckers”
The multiple sites indicate a targeted attack, though someone unintentionally spreading a phish on a personal account they also opened at work is also a possibility.
Phishing campaigns are easier at the moment. Simply title it with something like “COVID-19 phased return schedule” or the like and watch the clicks and callbacks roll in.
@Art Vandelay – We’ve had phishing attempts. Our IT/Security has been good at catching most of it. A private laboratory company in Canada did get hacked a short while ago. Ontario hospitals have been hit with ransomware attacks.
Phishing attacks are getting very targeted. I’m aware of a number o people who have received phishing emails that ‘appear’ to have come from their direct supervisor.
I would guess that production of the ILX could also handle a sudden downtime without inconveniencing many customers.
You can’t go to the moon with cyber-muscle…but you can sure prevent it.
No country for old men ad infinitum.
Old men could get there with slide-rulers.
“Old men could get there with slide-rulers.”
Actually, they didn’t. They used computers. They carried a slide rule for simple calculations, but otherwise, they did it with computers. Even the Manhatten Project used the Harvard Mark I for some calculations.
Slide rules or not it was drawn on mylar with pencils….
So building the rockets and spacecraft was part of the deal, but the whole steering the giant rocket during launch and not missing the moon or earth on the return trip and getting lost in space or burning up on reentry definitely required a guidance computer.
Some of the “computers” didn’t plug into the wall:
https://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/historic/Human_Computers
Saw (one of) Wernher von Braun’s and (one of) Sergei Korolev’s slide rules side-by-side at the [Kansas] Cosmosphere last summer.
I always liked the simplistic lines on the Fairmont/Zephyr. I think it’s the closest a domestic has ever gotten to a Volvo 240 knock-off….this and maybe the Aries/Reliant on a 4/5ths scale.
I’d love to see someone come out with a square brick/big window design these days….with all the modern conveniences and safety features. I think they could print money for all the folks who aren’t into all the swoopy & big grille fashion…..
I also like Zephyr but think that TTAC is under cyber attack right now.
So of their own Accord, probably against company policy, someone opened a virus-encrusted phishing message, and Honda has to go through an Odyssey of cleaning this up! Obviously a danger which is an Element of concern to every IT department today, enough to really give them Fits!
I hope they are keeping their guard up. This could all be a Prelude to a larger attack. It is their civic duty to remain vigilant.
Fortunately it is Honda, so any Transmission of this virus will have a limited lifespan.
Signed, Still ButtHurt Regarding the Odyssey :-(