Essendant, a wholesale distributer of office products, has been hit by a cyberattack, according to LockBit ransomware.
The attack caused a “significant” and ongoing outage that took the company’s operations offline. The outage has impacted both the company’s customers and suppliers, with freight carriers being told to hold off on any pick-ups until further notice. The company had not initially mentioned any cyber attack, but a revised note published after LockBit’s claim talks about ongoing recovery efforts, including a systems “clean-up” that is nearing completion.
Essendant is not the only victim of a ransomware attack that has caused multi-day outages. In February, LockBit also claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on the UK’s Royal Mail, while a fortnight ago, Dish Network confirmed that it was a ransomware attack that caused its multi-day outage.
Last September, Holiday Inn’s parent company, InterContinental Hotels Group faced network disruptions, with LockBit later claiming that it was behind the attack a few days later.
BleepingComputer, which first reported Essendant’s wide-spread network outage, received multiple tips from Essendant employees and/or customers alleging the outage was a ransomware attack.
Customers also expressed frustration at the lack of transparency from the company.
LockBit’s taunts on its leak site suggest that the company should “change a [sic] recovery company and try again”.
The attack is likely to serve as a reminder of the increasing prevalence and danger of ransomware attacks, and the importance of cybersecurity measures in safeguarding companies against such attacks.
