Asahi, Japan’s largest beer manufacturer, employs around 30,000 people and produces approximately 100 million hectoliters annually, generating close to $20 billion in revenue. The company suffered significant operational disruptions following the attack. On September 29, Asahi temporarily halted production at six of its domestic facilities, later confirming on October 3 that a ransomware attack had crippled its systems and led to data exfiltration.
At first, no threat actor took public credit for the breach. However, the Qilin ransomware group eventually listed Asahi among its victims, likely after ransom negotiations failed. Qilin, which emerged in 2023, is known as a multi-platform ransomware operation capable of targeting both Windows and Linux systems. The group has been associated with other notorious hacker collectives such as Scattered Spider and, more recently, North Korean state-linked actors.
Qilin’s tactics include exploiting vulnerabilities in edge network devices, deploying credential theft tools, and developing sophisticated encryption mechanisms to hinder recovery. The group has previously targeted high-profile organizations including Nissan, Inotiv, Lee Enterprises, major hospitals within London’s NHS network, and automotive supplier Yangfeng.
In its post, Qilin claimed that the Asahi ransomware attack could result in losses exceeding $335 million due to production halts affecting six breweries and more than thirty beer labels. Despite the claims, Asahi has not verified the authenticity of the leaked files. In a statement to BleepingComputer, a company spokesperson confirmed that the matter remains under active investigation and declined to comment further.
The company also shared that production of its flagship beer, Super Dry, has resumed through a temporary manual ordering system. While Asahi’s factories are not yet operating at full capacity, shipments for additional labels are expected to restart by October 15. However, as a direct consequence of the cyberattack and ongoing disruptions, Asahi announced it would delay the launch of new products that were initially planned for October 2025.
The attack on Asahi underscores the growing reach and sophistication of ransomware groups like Qilin, whose increasingly destructive campaigns continue to target global corporations across industries, threatening both economic stability and consumer trust.
