The Hong Kong Vegetable Marketing Organization (VMO) announced today (Oct. 15) that it discovered an information security incident on Oct. 13 involving a malicious ransomware attack that infiltrated part of its computer systems.
Upon discovering the incident, the VMO immediately suspended network system operations and external connections to relevant computer servers to prevent further intrusion by the hackers. The organization has reported the case to the police, notified the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team, and informed the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the incident affected the gate and accounting systems of the Cheung Sha Wan Vegetable Wholesale Food Market. These systems contain information of approximately 7,000 market users, with some data potentially compromised. The VMO stated that it is currently investigating to assess whether any personal data has been leaked. If necessary, affected individuals will be notified as soon as possible.
The VMO has appointed an external contractor to expedite system restoration and assist with the investigation. The market is currently maintaining largely normal operations, though some tasks, such as the issuance of invoices and handling of payments, have been temporarily switched to manual processing.
The VMO emphasized that it is working at full capacity to restore complete services as quickly as possible. The organization stated that it takes cybersecurity very seriously and will conduct a comprehensive review of this incident while further strengthening information and network protection measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
Related News:
John Lee announces NG torch relay next month, showcasing HK's culture & sports features
Comment