Ransomware attack hits Nasdaq-listed Israeli company

The Israeli developer of wireless chips and camera sensors Tower Semiconductor Ltd., listed on the Nasdaq, was hit by ransomware. The hackers are demanding hundreds of thousands of dollars to restore the infected systems, writes the local publication Calcalis.

Tower’s management has already reported the breach to the Israel Securities Authority and said that, as a precaution, it has shut down some servers and partially halted production.

The ransom will be paid from the insurer’s funds. Its exact amount is not disclosed.

Earlier, Israeli software maker Sapience, also listed on Nasdaq, paid the attackers $250,000 in Bitcoin. It is not ruled out that the same hackers are behind the attack on Tower.

According to data from Israeli Skybox Security, in the first half of 2020 the number of ransomware attacks increased by 72% compared with the same period in 2019.

Earlier ForkLog reported that over the last two years cryptocurrency ransomware attackers have increased the average ransom by 200%.

For details on whether Bitcoin is really the preferred instrument of scammers and extortionists, read our special report.

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