Technology

Kevin Costner is notably absent in this installment, but you can binge it all.

• Severance's creator has teased what'll happen next as part of Mark's 'reintegration' storyline
• Dan Erickson has suggested Mark's desire to combine his 'innie' and 'outie' personas poses all kinds of risks
• Erickson's comments come after season 2 episode 5's emotionally devastating ending

Severance creator Dan Erickson has a message for fans of the hit Apple series after season 2 episode 5's startling ending: be worried for Mark Scout.

Ahead of the Apple TV Plus mystery thriller show's return on January 17, I sat down with Erickson to pick his mind about Severance season 2's first six episodes. And, given what transpires in its fifth episode, titled 'Trojan's Horse', I couldn't pass up the opportunity to ask Erickson about where this particular Mark-focused narrative is heading. In short: in an ominous direction.

Full spoilers immediately follow for Severance season 2 episodes 3 and 5.

Turn back now if you haven't seen season 2 episode 5 yet! (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

One of this season's major storylines has revolved around Mark Scout's desire to undergo the experimental (and potentially unsafe) procedure known as 'reintegration'. It's an operation that, in theory, allows one of Lumon Industries' Severed employees to combine their 'innie' and 'outie' personas, thereby becoming a whole person again.

In season 1, we learn that the unorthodox and dangerous technique, which was developed by former Lumon scientist Doctor Asal Reghabi, has been used on Mark's fellow Lumon colleague Petey. Fans won't need me to remind them what happened to Petey as a result of his own 'reintegration' process. Unsurprisingly, Mark has resisted Reghabi's attempts to convince him to try and 'reintegrate', too.

Mark's stance on the matter changes in Severance season 2 episode 3. After the pair cross paths late on in that chapter, Reghabi stuns Mark by revealing his wife Gemma, who Mark's 'innie' has occasionally worked and conversed with at Lumon (she's called Ms Casey here, though), is still alive. Cue Mark performing a 180-degree turn and wanting to 'reintegrate' so his 'outie' can infiltrate Lumon, find Gemma, and rescue her.

"Welcome back, Mark. Been a minu- wait, you're not Mark S!" (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Things took a backseat on the 'reintegration' front in Severance season 2 episode 4 and you can learn more about that installment's explosive events by reading my Severance season 2 episode 4 ending explained piece. Mark's 'reintegration' plan, though, takes center stage on three separate, not to mention hugely important, occasions in this season's fifth entry.

The first instance sees Mark's 'outie' briefly catch a glimpse of the Macrodata Refinement office that his 'innie' works in. Next, Mark's 'innie' experiences a split-second moment in the real world when his office desk is replaced by a kitchen tabletop and some pills. This is an interior shot of the home that Mark's 'outie' lives in, with the medication being the tablets he needs to take to help with the 'reintegration' process.

it wouldn’t be a season 2 severance episode without ms casey serving face for two seconds and then disappearing #severance pic.twitter.com/cxIQ9OUtC3February 14, 2025

Episode 5's biggest Mark-centric event (from an 'outie' perspective, anyway) is reserved for its final few minutes. After a brief chat with Reghabi in the basement of his home, Mark's 'outie' starts hearing Ms Casey's voice in his head, which subsequently starts to hurt. As he deals with the pain, he's suddenly transported to Lumon. After walking down the dark corridor that's become the object of one of many huge Severance season 2 fan theories, he finds himself in one of Lumon's sterile, brightly-lit passageways. There, in both a heart-warming and soul-crushing manner, he briefly comes face-to-face with Ms Casey before he's transported back to his real world home.

Clearly, the 'reintegration' process is working, otherwise Mark's two personas wouldn't be having visions of their counterpart's worlds. So, that's a good thing, right? If Mark can fully 'reintegrate', he can save Gemma and bring down Lumon from the inside, surely? It's not that straight-forward, Erickson teases.

The closer he gets to that catharsis, the more dangerous he becomes to Lumon

Dan Erickson, Severance creator

"I think we all agree that the healthiest thing for Mark would be to be whole again," Erickson told me. "He wants to make peace between these different versions of himself and be able to live as a whole person. But, the closer he gets to that catharsis, the more dangerous he becomes to Lumon and, therefore, the more danger he is in, because they don't want them to be whole.

"I think a lot of real-world companies don't want their employees thinking for themselves too much or having a holistic sense of who they are," one of the best Apple TV Plus shows' creator continued. "They like their automatons and, when you start to become less of an automaton, you become more dangerous to them.

"On a practical level, if Mark's plan was to succeed, he would suddenly be able to take information in and out of Lumon. But, just on a character level, it means that he's gaining a greater sense of himself, and it does put him in danger."

We'll find out just how desperate and threatening things become for Mark in season 2's final five episodes. In the meantime, read more of TechRadar's coverage of Severance below.

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• You can score a limited edition Apple Watch workout award on Feb. 14
• The Heart Month limited-edition award is given after a 30-minute workout
• It falls on Valentine's Day as Feb. 2024 is Heart Month in the US

Apple might be channeling its Elvis with its latest limited-edition award for the Apple Watch. For the unfamiliar, for certain events of the year, Apple rolls out special digital awards you can unlock by completing with an Apple Watch – the catch is there’s a time sensitivity to scoring them.

If anything, it can encourage you to get active on a day when you might have taken a rest or push you to go the extra mile. This Valentine’s Day, rather than feeling the burn, Apple might have you feeling the love. Simply complete a 30-minute workout before the clock strikes midnight on February 14, 2025, and you’ll get the Heart Month limited-edition award.

After all, on top of February 14 being Valentine’s Day, February is Heart Month in the United States. It also might encourage you to check out some of the other heart health features on the Apple Watch, including monitoring general activity, performing a check-up in the Health app on your iPhone, and even enabling heart rate notifications.

(Image credit: Apple)

Like previous limited-edition awards, Apple isn’t locking this one behind a particular workout type. In fact, you can spend 30 minutes with any workout type – be it Dance, HIIT, Cycling, Swimming, Yoga, or any of the others – and you’re eligible for the award. This one’s design is green, and the exercise ring is well-completed with a heart in the middle and the numerals for 2025.

The Heart Month limited-edition award is animated, and you’ll also unlock some special stickers for Messages after earning the award. That’s par for the course with Apple Watch workout awards, as we saw with a celebration of National Parks in August and a custom one for Mental Health Awareness Day.

Considering the activity rings can gamify the experience a bit, this certainly acts as more encouragement and an honor for being active. It certainly works that way for me, as well. Alongside the award highlighting Heart Month, the Apple Watch – depending on your mode – also offers a few other heart-centric features.

These include the ability to monitor your heart rate and receive notifications in case the Apple Watch detects an irregular or high heart rate. You can turn on notifications for these on your wrist by going into the Apple Watch app on your iPhone and then tapping into Heart. There, you can turn on notifications for Irregular Rhythm and high and low heart rates. Additionally, the Apple Watch provides a rough estimate of your cardio fitness level and alerts you on your wrist and in the Health app if it is low.

If you have a new enough Apple Watch – it’s been around since the Series 4 – you can also take an ECG or Electrocardiogram on your wrist. For instance, the Apple Watch Ultra 2, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch SE second-generation all offer robust heart rate tracking capabilities with ECG functionality.

While not exactly a heart measurement, you can also use the Mindfulness app on your Apple Watch to take a break during the day to reflect or potentially reduce stress.

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• Severance season 2 debuted with amazing viewing numbers
• It's the first Apple TV Plus show to crack Nielsen's top 10 since 2023
• Silo also hit big for Apple's streaming service in January

Full disclosure up front: I’ve never seen Severance. Shameful, I know. But I'm increasingly in the minority according to some seriously impressive new viewer numbers for Severance season 2, which show how big a hit it's been for Apple TV Plus.

The media analytics company Nielsen (via The Hollywood Reporter) has just released its first set of streaming charts since the Adam Scott-fronted, memory-wiping sci-fi’s second season hit screens, and Crew Cupertino are no doubt breaking out the party poppers at the resulting data.

The newly-released figures, which cover the week of January 13, are the first to pop up since Severance season 2 debuted on Apple TV Plus just days later on the 17th. The headline news from said data is that the head-trip drama has drawn some of the highest viewing numbers for an original series in the streaming service’s five-year history.

Despite having such a short timeframe to make the Nielsen original viewing charts, Apple’s mega hit managed to slide into the fourth slot in the top 10. An even more eye-catching number? It clocked up an impressive 600 million viewing minutes in that short period.

These figures are even more notable considering it’s reasonably rare for Apple TV Plus shows to sneak into Nielsen’s top 10 original rankings at all. There are a couple of caveats – the data is limited to US households and only includes TV watching, not phones or computers. Still, while it's only a limited snapshot, it does show how well Severance has been doing in the Netflix-dominated charts.

The last Apple TV Plus show to hit this big in the Nielsen streaming charts was Ted Lasso season 3 back in 2023 – quite possibly one of the worst collection of episodes I’ve ever committed my eyeballs to. Severance, I thank you. Oh, and Ted and the rest of your saccharine soccer players? In the event there’s ever another season of Lasso – unlikely, seeing as the ‘comedy’ ended on a fairly definitive note – I hope AFC Richmond get liquidated.

Silo & Stitch

(Image credit: Apple TV +)

The latest Nielsen numbers bring more good news for the bigwigs at Apple TV Plus, as Severance wasn’t the streaming service’s only big winner. The third week of January also saw stylish sci-fi drama Silo crack tenth on the Nielsen original charts.

That’s noteworthy, as this appears to be the first time that two Apple Originals have appeared in the same week of Neilson’s top 10 rankings (as noted by, 9to5Mac).

Bear in mind that even though Severance’s second season has enjoyed a barnstorming start in terms of ratings, we are talking about the Neilson original charts, not the overall ones that look at all TV viewing figures.

Placed into that context, the team at the fictional Lumon Industries and their accumulated 589 million viewing minutes look small fry next to the 1.5 billion minutes Squid Game season 2 racked up on Nielsen’s overall streaming charts. Then again, Netflix’s South Korean smash hit has a far greater reach because of the platform it’s on.

Still, these figures point to not only to the bewitching appeal of Severance, but Apple’s increasing reach among the best streaming services.

You can catch new episodes of Severance season 2 every Friday until the finale airs on March 21. Suffice to say, I’ll be starting the first season this weekend.

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The recent ban of TikTok sent shockwaves through its 170 million U.S. userbase, particularly among business owners and creators who depend on the platform for their business.

Although service was restored, the shutdown raises the larger issue of the dangers of relying on building a business on a third party platform controlled by another company.

It’s a form of digital sharecropping. This means that you’re working on another company’s platform, where you have no control and the rug can be pulled out from under you at any time. This leaves your business vulnerable to being cut-off and shut down at any time.

Even if you’re not shut down, the platform could change its algorithm and remove you from their searches or promote a competitor.

This is not the first time this has happened. Businesses once investing heavily in Facebook Pages, as a means of distribution when Facebook emphasized Pages. But Facebook later changed direction and those efforts were wasted. There were numerous other changes Meta and Facebook have made over the years that have affected companies. Some companies such as BuzzFeed, built their business on Facebook traffic, but after the traffic dropped, the company’s business suffered.

Renting versus owning

Twitter famously had API integrations that many startups used to build apps and companies, from mobile Twitter apps to general social media apps to monitoring apps. Later, Twitter shut down those integrations and built competitors to those products.

Building a business on someone else’s platform is like renting versus owning. Renting real estate leaves you vulnerable to new competition, the landlord raising the rent, the landlord selling the building or the landlord making changes to the building. With ownership, you maintain maximum control over the direction of your business. Similarly, with your own website, you control the creation and distribution of your content, your marketing and your long-term future.

So what can business owners and creators do to build a long-term, sustainable online presence to support their business? First, establishing your own website will ensure that you have a lasting, enduring presence online, where people can find you and learn about your business.

Strong presence and control

I’m not advocating avoiding social platforms. By all means, use TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and others. For small businesses that generate content, social platforms can drive critical attention to sustain their growth. But if companies invest in their own website, that can provide a key lifeline. Using tools like WordPress make websites easy for non-developers to update and manage, combined with a host like Kinsta to ensure security and performance. That in conjunction with any content produced on other platforms will build their brand and provide resiliency no matter what happens on those platforms.

Also, make sure that you aren’t putting all your efforts and focus solely on these platforms. You want to have a strong presence that you control through your own website. Then, make sure you link back to your website on your profiles on all those platforms and also like back to your website whenever you can in your social posts. That will drive people back to your site. You can also invest in a domain name that is easy to remember and will help support your site. Then people at your website can sign up for your newsletter and keep in touch. You will own that data, and you can control your future.

So if something happens and you are dropped from a platform such as TikTok or Facebook, customers can still find your website on Google because of your SEO efforts. You will also show up in ChatGPT or other AI search engines. But you will only be available if you have this website already set up.

This is an investment in your business. It’s not a major expense when you think about the long-term benefit for your business, but it is an investment. It’s like taking care of your health or your hygiene. Just like you brush your teeth to protect your teeth long term.

The website advantage

A website will also help you define your overall strategy as a business. It’s not the same as a clip on TikTok or reel on Instagram. It can even be as simple as a one-page website, where people can find you. This alone will give you real legitimacy as a real business. When people find your website online, they’ll see you as a real business.

Ultimately you want a long-term online presence, where no matter what happens, you will be able to control your brand and your message for your current and future potential customers. That’s what will support your business for the future.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

The rapid growth of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), combined with increasing data processing demands, is causing a significant rise in power consumption in data centers around the world. In just the UK, for example, data center energy usage is projected to rise six-fold over the next decade.

This surge, paired with the ever-growing volume of data being generated, is driving the need for advanced storage capabilities to manage both curated and non-curated data. As a result, sustainability has become a core focus in data center operations.

Overcoming sustainability challenges

It’s no secret that data centers demand significant volumes of continuous power to operate. As the demand for data grows, so too does the energy footprint of data centers – leading to even higher emissions. Data center operators must, therefore, take a more proactive and innovative approach to limit the environmental impact they are having.

This is demonstrated by the tools and technologies used to better manage core components of operations. For instance, utilizing digital twins – a digital model of a real-world object or system – to identify changes to air flow and improve conditions.

Facility location is also an issue and, as a result, some innovative leaders are considering building in closer proximity to energy sources – such as nuclear power – to reach their energy requirements, while also lowering their emissions. With this closer proximity, operators can reduce energy loss during transmission, ensuring a more reliable and consistent power supply. Likewise, companies are building data centers in strategic geographic locations, such as colder climates, to leverage natural cooling for infrastructure, enhancing sustainability and cost efficiency.

Six key sustainability methods to consider

To help data centers overcome their sustainability challenges, there are six key methods that operators should consider.

1. Implementing dynamic power management: By adjusting energy consumption according to real-time demand, data centers can significantly improve their operational efficiency. For example, during periods of low activity, power can be conserved by reducing energy use, which minimizes waste without negatively impacting performance. This includes dynamic power management technologies in switch and router systems, such as shutting down unused line cards or ports, and controlling fan speeds to optimize energy use based on current needs.

Oppositely, in times of peak demand, operations can be scaled up to meet increased requirements, ensuring consistent and dependable service levels. Doing so not only decreases unnecessary energy use, but also contributes to sustainability efforts by lowering the environmental impact associated with energy-intensive operations.

2. Enhanced cooling solutions: Water and liquid cooling technologies can minimize power consumption and improve energy efficiency. As previously mentioned, some organizations are building their data centers in colder climates – like Scandinavia – to reduce cooling their needs naturally.

Direct liquid cooling, using liquid channels to direct heat away from specific electronic components, is also gaining traction for its precision and efficiency. Similarly, liquid immersion is becoming a preferred option for some customers. This involves servers that are completely or partially immersed in a dielectric fluid to reduce their temperature.

3. Recyclable and modular tools: To lower the amount of e-waste produced, equipment should be designed with modularity in mind. Doing so enables easier upgrades and the ability to recycle materials. Modular components also allow for selective replacement or enhancement without needing to discard an entire system. Additionally, extending the lifespan of equipment further reduces waste by maximizing the use of resources and minimizing the frequency of replacements.

4. Heat capture and distribution: Heat generated from data centers can be captured and repurposed to provide heating for nearby facilities and homes, transforming it into a valuable resource. This approach promotes a circular energy model, where excess heat is redirected rather than discarded. Integrating data centers into local energy systems also enhances sustainability and offers substantial benefits to nearby communities whilst addressing broader energy efficiency goals.

5. Advanced optical technology: Optics are a significant contributor to power consumption within data centers. Various initiatives are being developed and implemented to reduce the energy usage of optical modules to address this. Co-Packaged Optics (CPO), Linear Receive Optics (LRO) and Linear Drive Pluggable Optics (LPO) technologies aim to optimize the performance of optical interconnects whilst significantly lowering their energy requirements.

6. Enhancing a net zero market: By combining the elements listed above, data center operators can look to achieve carbon emission reductions and meet science-based net zero targets. However, this will be an ongoing and long-term effort, which will require implementation of energy-efficient technologies, optimize cooling systems and, ultimately, invest in renewable energy. Doing so will help set new industry standards for energy efficiency and carbon reduction, contributing to a far more sustainable future.

It is important for companies to clearly define, measure and execute these sustainability methods. However, in addition to reaching their net-zero emissions goal, data centers must also ensure these methods align with established national and international regulations and timelines.

The upside of data centers

While there is still much work to be done, the truth is that data centers have already played a significant role in advancing sustainability. This is demonstrated when looking at the technologies which have reduced the environmental impact of human activity. This includes virtual collaboration tools – such as Zoom, Microsoft® Teams, Google Meet and other similar platforms – which have transformed how people and organizations communicate. By making seamless remote interactions possible, the need for travel has significantly decreased and has led to reduced carbon emissions by air travel and daily commutes.

Additionally, innovations in automated network management tools and software-driven approaches have propelled sustainability within IT infrastructures. Automated tools powered by machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) efficiently manage network operations, which optimize energy use by allocating resources where and when necessary. This prevents the over-supply of resources and reduces energy waste. Software-driven solutions, such as Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV), simplify operations by reducing the need for physical hardware. These solutions also enable remote management, further contributing to lower energy consumption.

In 2025 and beyond, renewable energy sources are likely to become a cornerstone of data center operations, shifting from an ambitious goal to an industry standard. The innovations and practices being adopted are critical in supporting innovation and connectivity worldwide. Therefore, by implementing environmentally focused solutions, utilizing advanced technologies and following measurable, science-based net-zero commitments, data centers are well positioned to achieve a more sustainable digital future.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

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• UK Home Office is believed to have asked Apple to weaken iCloud encryption
• US officials are warning this could spell out a global disaster
• They’re urging the US to reconsider its relationship with the UK

US Senator Ron Wyden and Member of Congress Andy Biggs are urging the US Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, to oppose the UK’s request for an iCloud backdoor.

They argue that, if Apple were to comply with the UK’s demand, it would weaken US cybersecurity, jeopardizing both citizens’ and government data.

In a letter to the newly-appointed Gabbard, the pair explain how Apple uses the same encryption software for all markets, therefore a weakened security system in the UK would negatively impact both the US and other nations.

UK’s iCloud backdoor could impact the world

With reports suggesting the UK government has ordered the iPhone maker to weaken its encryption under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, the move has been described by the pair as an effort to “facilitate government spying” – they explain how Apple is “gagged from acknowledging that it received such an order.”

They noted how “wiretapping systems” aren’t the only threat – backdoor access opens up the potential for data to be stored elsewhere, in potentially less-secure locations. Wyden and Biggs explain this is how Chinese threat actors obtained access to US Government officials’ emails during a Microsoft hack in 2023.

They write: “While the UK has been a trusted ally, the US government must not permit what is effectively a foreign cyberattack waged through political means.”

Gabbard is asked to reconsider US-UK cybersecurity arrangements and intelligence sharing if Britain does not reverse its request, and is reminded of her confirmation hearing speech, in which she said: “backdoors lead down a dangerous path that can undermine Americans' Fourth Amendment rights and civil liberties.”

Yesterday, 109 civil society organizations, companies and cybersecurity experts also signed a joint letter urging the UK Home Office to reverse its request. Signatures are being collected until February 20, when a complete list of supporters and a finalized letter will be sent to the Home Office.

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• Apple just introduced refurbished Mac mini M4 models to its online store
• Pricing for M2 models wasn’t corrected, so they ended up more costly than the M4 variants
• A correction came swiftly though, and there’s now a startling bargain to be had on the entry-level Mac mini M2

Apple has just swiftly corrected pricing on its Mac mini refurbs after these PCs hit the headlines due to the refurbished Mac mini M4 actually being cheaper than the M2 model somehow.

However, the new (corrected) pricing on the M2 models not only makes a lot more sense, but it offers up a serious Black Friday-style bargain with the entry-level model in the US.

That’d be the refurbished Mac mini M2 with 8‑Core CPU (10‑Core GPU) partnered with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which is now priced at $319 in Apple’s US store (down from $499 originally, price correct at the time of writing).

The background to this is that the Mac mini M4 (and indeed MacBook Pro M4) have only just arrived as refurbs on the Apple store (surprisingly early, to be honest), and were priced up at a certain level, clearly without adjusting the M2 models afterwards.

MacRumors spotted the discrepancy between M2 and M4 pricing which meant that the newcomer M4 refurbished model, pitched at $509, with 16GB RAM and 256GB storage, was actually cheaper than the same M2 model with the equivalent RAM and storage, which was left priced at $559.

Obviously that made no sense, but all it took was a good headline catching the winds of Google (don’t forget, folks – other search engines are out there) to make some Apple staff members sit up, take notice and get adjusting.

So, the mentioned M2 model with 16GB of RAM was cut to $459, which lines up with the asking price of $509 for the same M4 Mac mini. However, the 8GB spin on the M2 Mac mini (with 256GB storage also) got a much deeper cut to produce that serious bargain.

At that level, I’m calling this a must-buy for anyone interested in a compact computer on the cheap, as the M2 Mac mini is still a great machine. This refurbished entry-level model is still in stock right now in the US, though I don’t know if it’ll stay that way for all that long.

Today's best refurbished M2 Mac mini deal

This refurbished Mac mini with the M2 chip is at a seriously low price. As it's refurbished it's not brand-new, but Apple's refurbishment process will make it essentially as good as new, and you also get a one-year warranty, and you have 14 days to return it as well, so you can buy with confidence. The M2 Mac mini isn't the most recent model, but it's still an excellent compact PC - especially at this ultra-low price.View Deal

(Image credit: Apple) Mac mini bargains outside of the US?

Apple has a history of failing to recalibrate refurbished price tags on older Mac models, by all accounts, and so this odd bit of wonky pricing isn’t all that surprising.

The change was made swiftly, mind, and you might get a similar bargain on other Apple stores aside from the US. Checking the UK online store, there’s nothing too compelling currently, but the prices of M2 models are in line with the M4 products.

What you really want is that baseline model of the M2 Mac mini – with 8GB plus 256GB storage – to get the deep price cut, it’d seem, and that isn’t in stock in the UK. There’s an 8GB version with 512GB storage, but it comes in at £489, so hardly the same level of bargain as the 256GB spin in the US.

It’s worth keeping your eyes peeled for bargains, then, if you need a compact PC and are happy with a refurb (and macOS, of course). It’s worth noting that Apple’s official refurbished hardware comes complete with a year’s warranty, and you can get AppleCare coverage for these devices too.

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• Unimicron confirms ransomware attack with the Taiwanese Stock Exchange
• It does not expect significant financial impact
• Sarcoma took responsibility, claiming they stole sensitive data, as well

Unimicron, a global manufacturing giant specializing in printed circuit boards (PCBs), has confirmed suffering a ransomware attack, filing a new report with the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE), revealing it was hit on January 30.

As soon as the attack was spotted, the company says it brought in a third-party cyber forensic team to analyze and defend the IT infrastructure, adding the anticipated possible loss or impact was “limited”. It does not expect to receive any compensation from its insurance company for the attack, either.

“The company will continue to enhance the security control of the network and information infrastructure to ensure information security,” the PCB manufacturer concluded.

Funding the state

The company did not say who attacked it, if it lost any sensitive data, or what the ransom demands are, but BleepingComputer reports a ransomware operation called ‘Sarcoma’ was behind the incident.

Apparently, the group posted samples of stolen files and threatened to release it all unless the payment is made. They claim to have stolen 377 GB of SQL files and documents.

Sarcoma is a relatively unknown name whose operations only started a few months ago. However, the publication claims it already struck 36 victims, making it highly active and quite destructive. One of its first victims seems to have been EARTHWORKS Group, a large construction and environmental services company.

Unimicron is one of the global leaders in rigid PCBs, flexible printed circuits, high-density interconnection (HDI) boards, rigid-flex boards, and integrated circuit (IC) carriers. These products are integral to various applications such as LCD monitors, PCs, notebooks, network cards, fax machines, scanners, mobile phones, and personal digital assistants.

The company operates manufacturing facilities and service centers across Taiwan, China, Germany, and Japan. In terms of financial performance, Unimicron reported a revenue of approximately $3.29 billion in 2023.

Via BleepingComputer

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