Hackers demand millions in ransom for CDK cyberattack, Bloomberg reports

Bloomberg reported that a group claiming to have hacked software company CDK Global is now demanding tens of millions of dollars in ransom.

CDK, which provides software to North American car dealerships, intends to pay the ransom, but talks could still change, according to a Bloomberg report citing a person familiar with the situation.

Bloomberg reported that the source said the group behind the hacking attack is believed to be based in Eastern Europe.

USA TODAY has reached out to CDK Global for comment.

CDK cyberattack:Hackers force shutdown of car dealership’s software systems after cyberattack

Three days since the cyber outage began

CDK’s cyber outage lasted for the third day in a row, impacting software management tools and disrupting operations at auto dealerships across the United States.

The company shut down most of its systems on Wednesday “out of an abundance of caution” for its customers, CDK spokeswoman Lisa Finney said. The company said it restored some systems later that afternoon before shutting them down again as more cyberattacks occurred, according to a letter to customers.

“Out of continued caution and to protect our customers, we are again proactively shutting down most of our systems,” the letter said. “We are currently assessing the overall impact and consulting with external third-party experts.”

The company did not provide an estimated timeframe for when the systems would be operational again. Dealers continued to report problems with CDK systems on Friday.

CDK Global works with 15,000 retail locations

Finney did not respond when asked how many retailers were affected, but CDK’s website says the company works with more than 15,000 retail locations across North America.

CDK is one of the leading providers of cloud-based software for auto dealerships in the country. CDK’s software helps auto dealerships manage vehicle purchases, sales, financing, insurance, repairs and maintenance. The company’s website says it offers a “three-tier cybersecurity strategy to prevent, protect and respond to cyberattacks.”

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