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Technology

Cyberattack on iPhone chipmaker exposes big tech's vulnerability

TSMC and industry peers race to overhaul security to fend off WannaCry virus

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, or TSMC, had to halt production for three days after a virus attack from WannaCry earlier this month.

TAIPEI -- When the WannaCry virus forced the world's biggest contract chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., to halt production for three days earlier this month, it sent a strong message to the industry that even the most advanced technology company is vulnerable to cyberattacks.

"The incident is a wake-up call to the whole industry," said Leuh Fang, chairman and president of Vanguard International Semiconductor, a Taiwanese power management and display driver chip manufacturer and a TSMC affiliate. "As soon as we learned of the event, we quickly asked all our information technology specialists to come back to work on a Friday night and check all the systems and factories thoroughly."

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