In the Wake of Cyberattack that incapacitated the WPP group shutting down most of its system in some of its offices across the world, leader of the Group, Sir Martin Sorrell reassures staff and clients across the world that “WPP is open for Business”
Hackers who broke into the WPP system were said to have demanded a ransom of $300 in bitcoin to unfreeze each of the affected system.
However, WPP instructed every staff that gets the message asking for $300 in bitcoin for a key to end the attack not to pay the ransom in keeping with the corporate policy as the Group scrambled overnight to fix the cyberattack that froze many of its systems and essentially idled employees in affected offices on Tuesday.
“We are working with our IT partners and law enforcement agencies to assess the situation, take all precautionary steps and return to normal operations as soon as we can,” WPP Group, CEO Martin Sorrell wrote in a memo to staff posted 1 a.m. UTC
Full text of the Sir Sorrell is produced below:
CYBER ATTACK – UPDATE
As you will know, organisations around the world have been hit by a cyber attack. A number of WPP companies – though not all – have been affected.
We are working with our IT partners and law enforcement agencies to assess the situation, take all precautionary steps and return to normal operations as soon as we can. At this time, we have no indication that either employee or client data has been compromised. As you would expect, our companies and teams are in contact with clients on an ongoing basis.
Many of you will have experienced significant disruption to your work. However, contrary to some press reports, WPP and its companies are still very much open for business.
We are a group packed full of highly creative, ingenious and dedicated people. I urge you all to put those qualities to use in making sure that what our clients experience in the hours and days ahead is as close to business as usual as we can possibly manage.
The IT teams in all our companies affected, coordinated by the Group IT function, are working hard to balance the need to protect our systems and the need to bring them back online in a timely fashion. The approach and solution will vary from company to company. It is crucial that you give them your full cooperation and support, and follow their instructions.
Thank you.
Sir Martin Sorrell
However, findings in Nigeria indicate that none of the WPP affiliated companies was affected. For instances a source in CentrespreadGrey, Lagos, Nigeria told BrandCrunch that the company’s system and line of communication with the GreyAfrica office has remained intact and faultless up till the filing of this report.
Similarly, a mail to Dr. Celey Okogun, CEO, NovelPotta Y&R did not elicit any negative comment as he did not confirm the attack.
WPP While the attack lasted in the affected offices, productivity ground to a halt. TV was watched by some. Beer was drunk by others. For many, it was business as usual.
“Many of you will have experienced significant disruption to your work,” Sorrell wrote in his note to staff. “However, contrary to some press reports, WPP Group and its companies are still very much open for business.”
The company itself didn’t comment on the breach until late in the day, in which hackers demanded bitcoin to release computers, but it appeared to affect units unevenly, with some hit and others left unscathed.
The attack was confirmed by the holding company Tuesday early afternoon after its website went down and WPP tweeted that “IT systems in several WPP Group’s companies have been affected by a suspected cyber attack.” In an internal memo Y&R said that as a precaution, “WPP Group is mandating that everyone immediately shut down all computers, both Macs and PCs.
However, by early evening, Y&R was telling employees “At this stage, Macs, non-Windows tablets, smartphones and the O365 email system do not appear to be affected. Wherever possible, staff can continue to work on these machines
