Foxconn confirmed a cyberattack on several of its USA factories, after the Nitrogen ransomware group claimed to have stolen confidential project files of Apple, Intel, and others during the breach. Foxconn is a key supplier for top hardware companies like Apple and NVIDIA. This isn’t the first time ransomware groups have targeted Foxconn. It was hit by LockBit in 2022 and 2024.
Confidential files of Apple, Intel, and NVIDIA were reportedly stolen in a Foxconn cyberattack
The Nitrogen group posted the breach on its data leak site earlier this week, claiming to have stolen 8TB of data comprising more than 11 million files. The leak reportedly includes confidential instructions, internal project documentation, and technical drawings related to projects at Apple, Intel, Google, Dell, NVIDIA, and others.
Foxconn’s spokesperson confirmed the breach to The Register. “Some of Foxconn’s factories in North America suffered a cyberattack,” the Foxconn spokesperson said to the outlet. Furthermore, the cybersecurity team activated response measures and implemented multiple operational measures to keep production and delivery running. Apparently, the affected factories are resuming normal operations.
That said, Foxconn didn’t say whether attackers took any customer data during the breach. So that question remains as is, for now. Regarding Apple, Foxconn assembles a wide range of products for it. On its part, the Cupertino tech giant keeps new products very secret. It only shares limited details with suppliers needed for their specific role in manufacturing.
Recovery may not be possible even after paying the ransom
Meanwhile, Nitrogen has been around since 2023. The attackers apparently built this ransomware variant using leaked code from the Conti 2 builder. Reports also indicate that victims may not recover encrypted files even after paying the ransom. Researchers at Coveware warned that this is due to a bug in its ESXi encryptor.
As for Foxconn, the LockBit ransomware group targeted it in 2024. The group apparently breached Foxsemicon Integrated Technology, a semiconductor equipment company under Foxconn. In 2022, the same group hit a Foxconn subsidiary in Mexico.
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