Taiwanese semiconductor giant TSMC has confirmed that one of its hardware suppliers, Kinmax, experienced a cyberattack resulting in stolen data. The breach, acknowledged on Friday, followed claims by Russian-speaking cybercriminals demanding a $70 million ransom from TSMC. Despite these threats, both TSMC and Kinmax have shown no intention to comply with the hackers’ demands, maintaining their stance against paying any ransom.
Fortunately, TSMC assured stakeholders that the breach had no detrimental impact on its business operations. As one of the world’s leading chipmakers and a critical supplier to tech giant Apple, TSMC emphasized that the incident did not compromise its customers’ data. In response to the breach, TSMC promptly terminated data exchange with the affected supplier, adhering to established security protocols and standard operating procedures.
The cyberattack underscores the persistent threat posed by cybercriminals targeting supply chain vulnerabilities in the semiconductor industry. Despite the attempted extortion, TSMC remained steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding its operations and customer data, reassuring investors and the public of its resilience in the face of such threats.
Additionally, the incident highlights the importance of robust cybersecurity measures and swift responses to mitigate the risks associated with such breaches in the highly competitive semiconductor sector.