Qilin Ransomware Group Targets Japanese Beverage Giant Asahi in Cyberattack

Qilin, a ransomware group known for global cyberattacks, claimed responsibility for a hack on Asahi Group Holdings, disrupting the Japanese beer and beverage giant's production. The group claims to have stolen 27 gigabytes of internal documents and has a history of ransomware service since 2022 with 870 attacks.

Qilin, a notorious ransomware group, has taken credit for a cyberattack on Japan's Asahi Group Holdings. This breach had significant repercussions, disrupting operations at Asahi Breweries, a key subsidiary, but production resumed at six Japanese beer facilities by October 2, after the initial breach on September 29.

Operating a ransomware-as-a-service platform, Qilin disclosed on its website that it has acquired over 9,300 files, equaling about 27 gigabytes of allegedly internal Asahi documents. However, Reuters has yet to verify these claims, as the issue remains under investigation according to Asahi representatives, who have refrained from discussing extortion details.

Qilin is not new to the cybercrime scene, having launched 870 documented attacks since its inception in 2022. One of its most alarming incidents involved a 2024 breach of Synnovis, a situation linked to a fatality at a London hospital in 2025.

(With inputs from agencies.)