As manufacturing companies continue to face growing cyber threats, Yushin America, Inc. has become the latest casualty in a string of ransomware attacks. The leading supplier of automation for the plastics injection-molding industry found itself in cybercriminals‘ crosshairs when the Qilin ransomware gang claimed responsibility for breaching their systems. Not exactly how they planned to start spring 2025.
The attack surfaced publicly on March 12 when Qilin’s leak page showcased Yushin America as their newest victim. With annual revenue of $61.8 million and approximately 88 employees, this Cranston, Rhode Island-based company now joins the unfortunate club of manufacturers targeted by sophisticated cyber gangs. Their Japanese parent company must be thrilled.
Another day, another manufacturer falls victim to cyber predators. Yushin America’s $61.8M operation now just another trophy on Qilin’s digital wall.
Qilin, formerly known as “Agenda,” has been operating its Ransomware-as-a-Service business since 2022. These guys aren’t amateurs. They typically gain initial access through spear phishing, then deploy their malware using tools like Cobalt Strike and spread laterally with PsExec. The group combines this strategy with their signature double extortion technique, threatening to release stolen data if payment isn’t made. Pretty standard playbook for today’s digital extortionists.
The impact on Yushin America could be severe. Beyond potential operational disruptions, there’s the nightmare scenario of intellectual property theft and client data exposure. Nothing says “reliable business partner” like having your sensitive information plastered across dark web forums. Like many small businesses, they may face the grim reality that 60% of businesses close within six months of experiencing a significant cyber attack.
Manufacturing continues to be a prime target for ransomware gangs. Companies with tight production schedules and just-in-time delivery requirements can’t afford downtime. Perfect leverage for extortion. The attack highlights the sector’s ongoing vulnerability to cyber threats.
The plastics industry now faces yet another wake-up call about digital security. Like Yuma Regional Medical Center did in 2022, Yushin America will likely need to engage a third-party forensics firm to investigate the full scope of the breach. Yushin’s 62 employees listed on RocketReach might be scrambling to implement security measures that should have been in place already. Multi-factor authentication, regular security audits, advanced threat detection systems – all things that sound great in hindsight.
For Yushin America and its customers, the coming weeks will reveal the full extent of the damage. One thing’s certain – they won’t be the last manufacturing company to make headlines this way.
