Ransomware Gang Qilin Claims Hack on Japan’s Asahi Group, Disrupts Beer Output

A ransomware group calling itself Qilin has claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on Japan’s Asahi Group Holdings, alleging it stole 9,300 files (≈ 27 GB) and publishing 29 images that purportedly show internal company documents.  The hack initially caused disruptions in Asahi’s systems, forcing its breweries to shut down order processing, shipments, and other operations. 

Production at six of Asahi’s Japanese beer plants was restarted on October 2, but the company is still assessing the full extent of the damage and restoring systems.  Prior to that, the outage had already led to shortages of Asahi’s popular beer brands across restaurants, bars, and retail outlets. 

Qilin operates as a ransomware-as-a-service outfit and has reportedly been behind nearly 870 global attacks.  Its past targets include health providers and critical infrastructure, making it a high-profile threat in the cybersecurity world.  Security analysts describe Qilin as “disruptive, highly active, and willing to create real-world chaos.” 

At this time, Reuters has not independently verified the authenticity of the documents released by Qilin, and Asahi has declined to comment publicly.  Meanwhile, investigations and recovery efforts are ongoing as the company works to restore full operations and evaluate potential data exposure.