Airbus SE took action to protect itself from data breaches after suffering a number of cyberattacks via subcontractors' IT systems in the past few months that may be linked to China, according to media outlets citing news agency Agence France-Presse.
Airbus monitors its systems, maintains detection mechanisms, and "takes immediate and appropriate actions when needed,” a company spokesperson said, as reported by Bloomberg News.
The European aircraft supplier has faced four such attacks via subcontractors' IT infrastructure over the past 12 months, according to AFP, Reuters reported. Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC and Expleo Group, as well as two other Airbus suppliers, were affected this year.
Airbus bolstered its security mechanisms in January after a cyber assault targeted confidential employee data, Bloomberg reported, citing the company. On April 30, hackers gained access to client data from German IT firm Citycomp, which provides internet infrastructure to Airbus and other companies.
Security sources have not ascribed concrete blame on any player but said that the attacks resembled those by parties with ties to Chinese intelligence, according to the Agence France-Presse article, Reuters reported. The attacks seemed to be targeted at uncovering details about Airbus' A400M military airliner and A350 long-range aircraft.
