Nexperia Hit by Hacker Attack
Nexperia, a prominent chip manufacturer headquartered in the Netherlands, disclosed that it fell victim to a cyberattack by hackers in March of this year. The company, currently under Chinese ownership, has launched an investigation into the incident with the aid of external experts. Nexperia, formerly a division of NXP Semiconductors, spun off in 2016 and was subsequently acquired by Wingtech Technology in 2018. Specializing in the production of fundamental chips, transistors, and diodes, Nexperia is a significant player in the global semiconductor industry.
In an official statement, Nexperia acknowledged unauthorized access to specific IT servers in March 2024. "Immediate action was taken to disconnect the affected systems from the internet to contain the incident and implement extensive mitigation measures," the company stated. Nexperia has initiated an investigation with the support of third-party experts to ascertain the nature and extent of the breach.
In 2023, Nexperia underwent scrutiny from the Dutch government following its acquisition of chip startup Nowi Energy BV, amidst heightened vigilance surrounding Chinese tech investments. Subsequently, following an assessment determining no national security threat, the transaction received government approval.
While specifics regarding the extent of damages or losses incurred by Nexperia due to the cyberattack remain undisclosed, reports indicate that cybercriminals have disseminated numerous confidential documents on the dark web, seeking ransom. Allegedly, these documents comprise hundreds of gigabytes of sensitive information, including trade secrets, chip designs, and data associated with notable clients such as Apple, Huawei, and SpaceX.
Nexperia has chosen not to comment on media speculation or the scope of the breach. Similarly, representatives from Apple, Huawei, and SpaceX have yet to respond to requests for comment.
A spokesperson for the Dutch data protection authority has confirmed awareness of the data breach.
