The systems of a Toronto-based construction company – one with contracts with the military and other federal departments – have been impacted by ransomware by an infamous cybercrime group.
The hacker group known as Maze has claimed responsibility for the malware infecting the systems of Bird Construction. The attack managed to encrypt some 60Gb of data, preventing the company from accessing its own files.
“Bird Construction responded to a cyber incident that resulted in the encryption of company files,” the company said in an email statement to CBC News.
Despite the setback caused by the ransomware, Bird said in its statement that it has continued to function with “no business impact,” and that it is working with “leading cyber security experts” to restore access to the encrypted files.
Bird Construction would not reveal whether they paid the attackers to lift the ransomware encryption. The Maze group has been infamous for publicly shaming their victims until they pay the ransom.
A spokesperson for Bird confirmed that government officials were notified at the time of the ransomware attack.
CBC News reported that from 2006 to 2015, Bird won 48 contracts with the Department of National Defence, totalling over $406 million. The construction company has also helped build a detachment headquarters in Surrey for the RCMP, and has collaborated with Public Services and Procurement Canada on several projects.
