Malware: Transport and logistics, USA 2023
From 26 April 2023, the cold storage group noticed an attack on its network and took systems offline; around 30% of sites were affected, and customers had to cancel deliveries.
- Incident · 04.2023 · USA
- Evidence: confirmed by an authority
- Malware
- Data breach
As of
What happened
According to a report by SeafoodSource, refrigeration and blast freezing continued; the SEC filing itself does not mention refrigeration or goods. Americold later reported a data leak affecting 129'611 current and former employees; the Cactus group claimed the attack.
- Affected
- Americold Realty Trust
- Industry
- Transport and logistics
- Loss
- no reliable figure
- Business interruption
- unknown
- Ransom demanded / paid
- unknown / unknown
- Data affected
- true
- Bankruptcy
- no
- Entry point
- not stated in the sources
What would cyber insurance have paid?
That depends on the terms. Whether those affected were insured: unknown.
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Loss of income after an attack
Business interruption, only after the waiting period
Mostly covered 7 of 9 business products cover it fully, as an add-on or with limits.
-
Letters, call centre, credit monitoring
Mostly covered 6 of 9 business products cover it fully, as an add-on or with limits.
-
Property damage caused by an attack
Spoiled goods, damaged machine
Mostly not covered 0 of 9 business products cover it fully, as an add-on or with limits.
Overview based on public policy terms, as of 06.11.2026. Only your policy and its general terms and conditions (GTC) are binding. No confirmation of cover.
What we can learn
Refrigeration must be able to keep running independently of the office IT; otherwise a cyber attack turns into damage to goods.
Sources
- Americold Realty Trust – Form 8-K (opens in a new window) US Securities and Exchange Commission · 2023-05-01
- Cold storage giant Americold discloses data breach after April malware attack (opens in a new window) BleepingComputer · 2023-12
- Cyberattack hits a third of Americold's facilities (opens in a new window) SeafoodSource · 2023-05