• Japanese chip testing giant Advantest Corporation (TSE: 6857) has been targeted in a ransomware attack.Advantest makes automatic test equipment for the semiconductor industry. • It serves major chipmakers such as Intel, Samsung, and TSMC.In astatementpublished on its website on Thursday, Advantest said it detected an IT network intrusion on February 15 and immediately activated incident response protocols.The company has shared little information about the cybersecurity incident.“Preliminary findings appear to indicate that an unauthorized third party may have gained access to portions of the company’s network and deployed ransomware,” Advantest said.It’s unclear if the attackers exfiltrated any sensitive information from the company.Advertisement. • Scroll to continue reading.“If our investigation determines that customer or employee data was affected, we will notify impacted persons directly and provide guidance on protective measures,” Advantest noted.No known ransomware group appears to have taken credit for the attack on Advantest. • However, given that the intrusion was detected less than one week ago, the threat actor may still be hoping to obtain a ransom from the victim before posting it on a leak website.Learn More at SecurityWeek’s Ransomware Resilience & Recovery SummitIt’s not uncommon for threat actors to target the semiconductor industry. • Major companies have confirmed being hit by ransomware in recent years, includingNexperia,TSMC,Microchip Technology, andFoxsemicon.The attack on Advantest came just months after the Japanese government issued new operational technology (OT)security guidancefor semiconductor factories.Related:Ransomware Groups May Pivot Back to Encryption as Data Theft Tactics FalterRelated:SmarterTools Hit by Ransomware via Vulnerability in Its Own ProductRelated:42,000 Impacted by Ingram Micro Ransomware Attack Advantest makes automatic test equipment for the semiconductor industry. • It serves major chipmakers such as Intel, Samsung, and T

Article Summaries:

  • Japanese chip‑testing company Advantest Corporation (TSE: 6857) reported a ransomware attack on February 15. The firm detected an IT network intrusion, immediately activated its incident‑response protocols, and confirmed that an unauthorized third party accessed parts of its network and deployed ransomware. Advantest has not yet disclosed whether any customer or employee data were exfiltrated, but it said it would notify affected parties if a breach is confirmed. No cyber‑crime group has claimed responsibility, and the attack follows a wave of ransomware incidents targeting the semiconductor sector, including Nexperia, TSMC, and Microchip. The incident occurred shortly after Japan issued new operational‑technology security guidance for semiconductor factories.

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