BlackMatter Ransomware Attackers Demand $5.9M Payment

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NEW Cooperative, an Iowa farmer co-op, was hit by a ransomware attack. The hackers successfully compromised the co-op and are demanding $5.9 million for the provide a malware decryptor and to not leak the stolen data.

A farmer’s cooperative is a network of farmers who work together to get the best prices from vendors and buyers. They may also share land and resources.

Malware is any unwanted computer code on a device or network. Malware may spy on information, steal banking credentials, or lock up control of computer systems and hold them for ransom.

“NEW Cooperative recently identified a cybersecurity incident that is impacting some of our company’s devices and systems. Out of an abundance of caution, we have proactively taken our systems offline to contain the threat, and we can confirm it has been successfully contained,” a NEW Cooperative spokesperson told BleepingComputer.

NEW Cooperative is based in Iowa.

The farmer’s cooperative is working with law enforcement.