Dutch chipmaker Nexperia falls victim to cyberattack
Hackers posted dozens of confidential documents on dark web
Dutch-based chipmaker Nexperia, a former division of NXP, has confirmed that it was targeted in a cyberattack by unidentified hackers last month.
The company is currently investigating the incident with the assistance of cybersecurity experts.
"Nexperia has become aware that an unauthorized third party accessed certain Nexperia IT servers in March 2024," a statement released by the chipmaker on Friday revealed.
Nexperia said it acted swiftly to contain the attack, disconnecting the compromised systems from the internet and implementing comprehensive mitigation measures.
The breach was initially reported by Dutch broadcaster RTL, which said that the cyber criminals had posted dozens of confidential documents on the dark web and demanded a ransom.
According to RTL, the hackers claimed to have stolen hundreds of gigabytes of sensitive information, including trade secrets, chip designs, and data related to major customers such as Apple, Huawei, and SpaceX.
"The criminals behind the attack are threatening to publish the company's crown jewels if they refuse to pay a ransom," RTL added.
Nexperia has reported the cyberattack to 'Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens' (Dutch Data Protection Authority) and the police, and is closely monitoring the situation.
The company has refrained from disclosing further details about the incident due to the ongoing investigation.
Based in the Netherlands, Nexperia is an international semiconductor firm with a workforce of over 15,000 employees spanning Europe, Asia, and the United States. The company specialises in producing basic chips, transistors, and diodes, and reports shipping over 100 billion products each year.
Nexperia was once a part of the Dutch electronics giant Philips and its semiconductor unit NXP. In 2016, it was spun off from NXP and then acquired by China's Wingtech Technology in 2018.
Nexperia's connection to Chinese tech firm and its previous acquisition of chip firm Nowi Energy BV have brought increased scrutiny from Dutch authorities.
Last year, the Dutch government launched an investigation into Nowi acquisition, although it was finally approved after the government determined it posed no national security threat.
In 2022, the UK government ordered Nexperia to divest at least 86% of its ownership in British chip manufacturer Newport Wafer Fab (NWF) due to national security concerns.
Nexperia had acquired NWF, the UK's largest microchip factory, in 2021 for £63 million. Initially holding a 14% stake in NWF, Nexperia increased its ownership to 100% by July 2021.
Following the acquisition announcement, government officials and legislators expressed worries about the UK selling a critical asset to a Chinese-owned entity during a global semiconductor chip shortage.
The UK government's directive cited national security risks associated with the potential transfer of knowledge and technology from activities involving compound semiconductors at the facility, as well as the potential or such activities to undermine British capabilities.
Last month, the government gave the green light to the sale of NWF to US-based Vishay Intertechnology for £140 million.