(StraightShooterNews.com) – Beloved coffee giant, Starbucks is facing a major crisis as it was hit by a ransomware attack that has crippled its employee scheduling system.
See the tweet below.
The attack took place on mid-November 21 and left Starbucks scrambling to manage its workforce across North America.
The company’s third-party software supplier, Blue Yonder Group Inc., a subsidiary of Panasonic, fell victim to the ransomware attack. This digital ambush disrupted Starbucks’ ability to schedule shifts and track retail workers’ hours.
Now, the coffee chain has had to resort to manual methods, using pens and paper to ensure their hardworking baristas are paid correctly.
Blue Yonder, a cloud services provider for numerous Fortune 500 companies, has inadvertently become a gateway for cybercriminals to wreak havoc on American businesses.
The attack’s ripple effects have spread beyond Starbucks, impacting major U.K. grocery chains and potentially affecting other industry giants like Ford, 7-Eleven, and Walgreens.
This cyber assault comes at a particularly challenging time for Starbucks. CEO Brian Niccol is already grappling with declining sales and must now contend with this technological nightmare.
Moreover, the company’s loyal employees are caught in the crossfire, unable to view or manage their schedules through normal channels.
Store leaders and baristas are being forced to adapt quickly, managing schedules manually during the outage to keep America’s favorite coffee shops running smoothly.
The scale of this cyber threat cannot be overstated. Ransomware attacks have surged to alarming levels, with 2024 on track to be one of the worst years for such incidents. By mid-year, over 2,300 attacks had already been reported.
These digital terrorists are not just locking systems, but they are demanding extortion fees that have reached a staggering $1.1 billion globally in 2023 alone.
What is even more concerning is the timing of these attacks. Cybercriminals are strategically targeting businesses during holidays and weekends when defenses might be lowered.
A shocking 86% of organizations have been targeted during these vulnerable periods.
“Our investigation remains ongoing, but please know that our priority is to ensure a safe and secure recovery,” Blue Yonder Inc. stated.
While the third-party software supplier claims to be focused on a “safe and secure recovery,” enlisting the help of cyber security firm CrowdStrike, the damage has already been done.
The potential for data theft looms large, raising serious concerns about the privacy and security of employee information.
☕💻 Starbucks hit by disruptions after ransomware attack on software supplier
Tickers of interest: $SBUX
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— PiQ (@PiQSuite) November 25, 2024
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