Ferrara is experiencing a fright at the most fearful time of the year for a candy manufacturer: Halloween. The U.S. candy maker, known for brands like Lemonheads, Nerds, SweeTarts, Laffy Taffy, Red Hots, and Atomic Fireballs, has been experiencing a cybersecurity incident due to a ransomeware attack.
The hack, which was disclosed October 19 and has been reported on sites such as ZDNet, The Hill, and Tech Times was first spotted at Ferrara on Oct. 9. According to statements issued by the company, the hackers encrypted the company's computer system and demanded a payment. The company, which is headquartered in Chicago, has indicated it has been able to resume production in select manufacturing facilities, but is shipping near to capacity from all of its distribution centers.
Ferrara is one of several major food companies in the U.S. that has experienced a cyber-attack this year. In March, Molson Coors experienced a cybersecurity incident while JBS was shut down momentarily due to a ransomware attack in June.
