KUALA LUMPUR – Nitrile glove producer Hartalega Holdings Bhd has fallen victim to a ransomware attack, causing the breakdown of its intranet systems and paralysing its daily operations.
According to an urgent notice sent out by its information technology (IT) team to personnel in the Bursa-listed firm’s wholly-owned subsidiaries Hartalega NGC Sdn Bhd and Hartalega Sdn Bhd, a number of applications and softwares are currently inaccessible due to the attack.
“We regret to inform you that our company is currently facing a temporary disruption due to an external cyberware attack. As a result, all applications and software, including Hartanet, D365, Floor System, QAI screen, etc., are currently inaccessible.
“Our IT team and vendor are actively working to address and resolve the situation,” said the notice, which was sent out at 9.27am yesterday and sighted by Scoop.
The IT team added that employees are requested to utilise “manual processes” until a full recovery of its internal systems are achieved.
“Please be assured that we take this matter seriously, and the security of our systems and your data is our top priority. We will keep you updated on the progress and provide further instructions as necessary.”
In a separate notice sent out on 11.27am the same day, the IT team labelled the invasion as a “ransomware attack” and issued an immediate directive for employees to change their Windows password as well as restart their personal computers or laptops.
“These steps are crucial in mitigating the impact of the ransomware attacks and safeguarding our systems.
“Your prompt attention to this matter is essential in maintaining the security of our network and data,” it added.
According to a source close to the matter, the issue has yet to be resolved as of press time.
In a response to Scoop, a Hartalega Holdings spokesperson said that the company experienced an “isolated interruption” which affected certain internal IT systems.
“The necessary steps have been taken to address this matter and we expect to resolve this soon with limited disruptions.” – December 20, 2023