| Recurring |
multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident having happened again at one_organization:
The article does not mention any previous incidents of a similar nature happening within the same organization (ISS World) or with its products and services. Therefore, there is no information available to suggest that a similar incident has occurred before at ISS World [95955].
(b) The software failure incident having happened again at multiple_organization:
The article mentions that ransomware attacks, like the one experienced by ISS World, have become a significant challenge in cybersecurity. It highlights that hackers are increasingly targeting bigger organizations for bigger rewards, with some successfully extorting millions from victims. This indicates that similar incidents of ransomware attacks have likely occurred at multiple organizations, not just ISS World [95955]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident at ISS World was due to a ransomware attack, which is a type of malware that encrypts IT systems, locking users out and demanding money. This incident was a result of a cyber-attack on the company's systems, indicating a failure related to the design and security of the IT infrastructure [95955].
(b) The operation of the system was impacted by the ransomware attack, leading to ISS World's websites being down and affecting the email services of thousands of employees. The attack disrupted the daily operations of the company, highlighting a failure related to the operation and functionality of the IT systems [95955]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident reported in the article is a result of a ransomware attack on the major facilities company ISS World. The attack involved malware that encrypted IT systems, locking users out and demanding money. ISS World confirmed that it was a ransomware attack, indicating that the failure originated from within the system itself [95955].
(b) outside_system: The ransomware attack on ISS World, leading to the software failure incident, was caused by external factors, specifically hackers targeting the company's IT systems. The attack was described as a cyber-attack, indicating that the contributing factors originated from outside the system, with hackers exploiting vulnerabilities to carry out the ransomware attack [95955]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident in Article 95955 was due to non-human_actions, specifically a cyber-attack involving ransomware. The incident was described as a malware attack that encrypted IT systems, locking users out and demanding money. The attack impacted ISS World, a major facilities company with half a million employees worldwide, leading to website downtime and email disruptions for thousands of employees [95955]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident in Article 95955 was not attributed to hardware issues but rather to a cyber-attack involving ransomware. The attack encrypted IT systems, locking users out and demanding money, indicating a software-related issue [95955]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident in Article 95955 was malicious in nature. It was a ransomware attack on the major facilities company ISS World, where hackers encrypted IT systems, locking users out and demanding money [95955]. The attack was described as a "malware" attack by ISS World, but it was later revealed to be a ransomware attack [95955]. Ransomware attacks are typically carried out with the intent to harm the system and extort money from the victims, making this incident a malicious software failure. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The intent of the software failure incident related to poor_decisions:
- The software failure incident at ISS World was a result of a ransomware attack, where hackers encrypted IT systems and demanded money [95955].
- The incident highlights the significant impact of ransomware attacks on large companies, emphasizing the trend of hackers targeting bigger organizations for larger rewards [95955].
- Despite warnings from law enforcement agencies not to pay hackers as it fuels the industry, companies facing such attacks are often in a tough position when their future is at stake [95955]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
accidental |
(a) The software failure incident in Article 95955 was not attributed to development incompetence. The incident was caused by a cyber-attack, specifically a ransomware attack on the major facilities company ISS World. The attack encrypted IT systems, locking users out and demanding money. The company mentioned it was a "malware" attack but later confirmed it was a ransomware attack [95955].
(b) The software failure incident in Article 95955 was accidental in the sense that the cyber-attack was not caused by the company's own incompetence but rather by external malicious actors. The attack was described as a ransomware attack, a type of cyber-attack where hackers encrypt IT systems to extort money from victims. The incident was not a result of accidental internal errors but rather a deliberate attack on the company's systems [95955]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident reported in Article 95955 was temporary. The incident involved a ransomware attack on ISS World, which resulted in their websites being down since February 17. Additionally, 43,000 staff members at specific locations were reported to still have no email access due to the attack. The company took precautionary measures by disabling access to its IT services when the attack was noticed, indicating a temporary impact [95955]. |
| Behaviour |
crash, value, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident in Article 95955 can be categorized as a crash. The incident involved a cyber-attack on ISS World, leading to its websites being down and impacting the company's operations. The attack resulted in users being locked out of IT systems, indicating a failure due to the system losing its state and not performing its intended functions [95955].
(b) omission: The incident in the article does not specifically mention a failure due to the system omitting to perform its intended functions at an instance(s).
(c) timing: The incident in the article does not indicate a failure due to the system performing its intended functions correctly, but too late or too early.
(d) value: The software failure incident in Article 95955 can be associated with a failure due to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly. The ransomware attack encrypted IT systems, locking users out and demanding money, which deviates from the system's intended function [95955].
(e) byzantine: The incident in the article does not align with a failure due to the system behaving erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions.
(f) other: The software failure incident in Article 95955 can be further described as a ransomware attack, which is a type of malware that encrypts IT systems and demands payment for access. This behavior falls under the "other" category as it involves a specific type of attack that is not covered by the options (a) to (e) [95955]. |