Boeing Data Breach: Lockbit Ransomware Group Leaks Aerospace Firm's Internal Data

Boeing suffered from a major data breach after Lockbit, a ransomware group, leaked the aerospace firm's internal data online.

(Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images) The Boeing logo hangs on the corporate world headquarters building of Boeing on November 28, 2006, in Chicago, Illinois. Orders for U.S. manufactured durable goods saw an 8.3 percent decrease in October. Aircraft orders dropped 45 percent for the same period.

The ransomware gang decided to post sensitive information about Boeing after the company failed to pay the ransom it was asking for.

Boeing confirmed that its parts and distribution business was indeed hacked by the cybercrime organization.

Boeing's Internal Data Leaked by Lockbit Ransomware Group

According to Interesting Engineering's latest report, Lockbit was previously asking Boeing to pay up its ransom by Nov. 2. However, the defense-aerospace firm didn't send the money.

Because of this, a tremendous amount of sensitive details were published by the cybercrime group on Friday, Nov. 10. The New York Post reported that most of the information dates to late October.

"We are aware that, in connection with this incident, a criminal ransomware actor has released information it alleges to have taken from our systems," said Boeing.

"We continue to investigate the incident and will remain in contact with law enforcement, regulatory authorities, and potentially impacted parties, as appropriate," added the aerospace company.

Although some of its sensitive data were leaked, Boeing is still quite confident that the massive data breach will not drastically affect its business.

Boeing claimed that the cyberattack is unlikely to affect the safety of its airplanes, as well as its flight operations. However, the defense firm didn't confirm if the cybercriminals were able to comprise its defense and other confidential information.

How Will Boeing Solve This Issue?

(Photo: OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images) The Boeing regional headquarters is seen amid the coronavirus pandemic on April 29, 2020, in Arlington, Virginia. - Boeing announced sweeping cost-cutting measures Wednesday after reporting a first-quarter loss of $641 million following the hit to the airline business from the coronavirus pandemic. The aerospace giant plans to reduce its workforce by 10 percent.

As of writing, Boeing hasn't confirmed how will it solve the latest cyberattack against its business. But, since the company is already facing other problems, there's a chance it would have a hard time fixing the data breach.

Lockbit's cyberattack against Boeing comes as the aerospace firm is facing some challenges in meeting its 737 Max delivery target before 2023 ends.

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun confirmed the issue with the 737 Max delivery schedule during a press release in October. Calhoun and other officials said that the 737 Max airplanes are under intense scrutiny and controversy because of the two deadly crashes, which happened in 2018 and 2019.

To make matters worse, the fatal incidents happened because of software glitches.
Aside from the 737 Max airplane controversy, Lockbit itself could give Boeing a hard time since it is described as one of the most professionally organized cybercrime groups.

CISA (U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) even said that Lockbit already breached over 1,700 American organizations and companies.