Pitney Bowes Hit In Ransomware Attacks

Shipping and technology behemoth Pitney Bowes is the latest in a string of high-profile companies to be hit in a cyberattack.

TechCrunch reported that the company was hit with a ransomware attack.

“Pitney Bowes was affected by a malware attack that encrypted information on some systems and disrupted customer access to our services,” the company said on Monday (Oct. 14). “At this time, the company has seen no evidence that customer or employee data has been improperly accessed. Our technical team is working to restore the affected systems, and it is working closely with third-party consultants to address this matter. We are considering all options to expedite this process and we appreciate our customers’ patience as we work toward a resolution.”

In the past few months, Arizona Beverages, science company Eurofins, and a company that makes aluminum called Norsk Hydro, have all been targeted.

The FBI recently warned that “high impact” attacks would be hitting large companies.

“Ransomware attacks are becoming more targeted, sophisticated, and costly, even as the overall frequency of attacks remains consistent,” the FBI said in the warning. “Since early 2018, the incidence of broad, [indiscriminate] ransomware campaigns has sharply declined, but the losses from ransomware attacks have increased significantly, according to complaints received by IC3 and FBI case information.”

It’s not yet known exactly what type of ransomware has affected Pitney Bowes, but it said it’s working with a third-party consultant on the issue.

The company has more than 1.5 million clients across the globe, some of which are Fortune 500 companies. It helps sellers with mailing and shipping needs with a goal of improving efficiency, and sellers on marketplace platforms like Etsy and Shopify use it often.

Several users of the service complained about not being able to perform basic maintenance of their accounts, according to TechCrunch.