Gigabyte Group

Gigabyte is a Taiwanese group of companies producing motherboards, video cards and other computer equipment.

Company structure

The organizational structure of Gigabyte holding is represented by the following companies:

• Gigabyte Technology - development and production of system and graphics cards, as well as peripheral devices for desktop PCs;
• Gigabyte Communications (founded in 2004) - the production of communicators and smartphones under the GSmart brand (since 2006);
• GIGAZONE International - specializes in desktop chassis, monitors (ENVISION trademark), power supplies and CPU cooling systems;
• G-Style - production of laptops and tablets.

Business in Russia and CIS

2013

Completion of the construction of a computer plant in Ryazan

Yandex, the LANIT group of companies and the Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Gigabyte have completed the construction of a computer plant in Ryazan. This was announced on May 19, 2023 by the press service of the State Duma deputy RFAnton Nemkin. Read more here.

The beginning of the supply of Gigabyte laptops to Ukraine

In July 2013, the Ukrainian company Diweave announced the signing of a distribution contract with Gigabyte and the start of deliveries of its laptops to Ukraine.

2012: Board market share in Russia - 33%

As of June 2012, Gigabyte Technology's share in the motherboard market in Russia is 33%.

2003: Opening of the official Russian representative office

April 22, 2003 - The official Russian representative office of Gigabyte opens in Moscow. Its first leader was Kuk Huang.

History

2023: Board deliveries with bookmarks to run any code on PC

On May 31, 2023, Eclypsium, a cybersecurity company, announced that millions of Gigabyte motherboards contain a dangerous vulnerability that allows attackers to run arbitrary malicious code on a computer.

The problem is that the UEFI update mechanism on Gigabyte boards is implemented with a minimum level of security. The analysis showed that the firmware contains a hidden update download tool that helps you quickly implement new functions and fixes. However, this mechanism has a number of weak points. First of all, it does not check the digital signature of the downloaded file, and therefore potentially dangerous code can get to the computer. In addition, downloading occurs through an insecure connection - HTTP or an incorrectly configured HTTPS protocol. Thus, there is a possibility of replacing the payload using the so-called "Man-in-the-middle attack."

Millions of Gigabyte motherboards contain dangerous vulnerability that allows attackers to run arbitrary malicious code on a computer

In total, more than 270 models of Gigabyte motherboards are at risk: that is, millions of users are potentially affected. The situation is worsened by the fact that the mechanism operates at the UEFI level, and therefore malicious code can be executed during computer boot. Moreover, it will not be possible to eliminate the gap either by reinstalling the operating system or by completely cleaning the disk.

Gigabyte began urgently distributing updates that fix the vulnerability. The fix provides "a guarantee that any firmware downloaded is genuine and obtained from an official source." Meanwhile, Eclypsium experts recommend that users deactivate the APP Center Download & Install option in the UEFI/BIOS settings, as well as set a password for accessing the BIOS.^[1]

2022: Creation of a company to transfer the server business to it

In mid-March 2022, Gigabyte Technology announced the spin-off of its server business into a new subsidiary, Giga Computing Technology. The Taiwanese manufacturer plans to complete the restructuring by January 1, 2023. Read more here.

2021

Ransomware Virus Reattack

At the end of October 2021, Gigabyte was attacked by a ransomware virus, marking the second time the company has been attacked in the past three months. Some IT systems are blocked and if the company does not pay, there is a threat to release more stolen data from AvosLocker to the World Wide Web.

On October 21, 2021, the DarkWeb Criminal Intelligence account posted a message on the social network that a group called AvosLocker had successfully attacked Gigabyte. AvosLocker was first spotted searching for companions on underground forums. In early October 2021, it was reported that hackers plan to sell at auction the data of victims who refused to pay the required ransoms. AvosLocker released some of the stolen data as evidence that they did successfully attack Gigabyte, according to Privacy Sharks, the data includes passwords and usernames, employee salary data, and personnel documents and credit card details. In addition, documents were found regarding the company's relationship with Barracuda Networks, Blizzard Entertainment, Black Magic, Intel, Kingston Technology, Amazon and Best Buy, as well as screenshots of a tree of files showing various other stolen documents.

Gigabyte attacked a ransomware virus for the second time in 3 months, the company's IT systems are blocked

Details in the file tree should be extremely concerned about Gigabyte as they consider the consequences of this hack. In most dual extortion schemes, data theft focuses on quantity rather than quality. The file tree from this dump suggests that in this case the threatening subject focused on a high-quality sample of information. AvosLocker's dual extortion model involves selling data for those who don't pay, not just giving it free, "Jake Williams told SiliconANGLE.

John Bambenek, chief specialist in information technology and security operations at Netenrich, says ransomware operators are becoming more aggressive in demanding payment for their victims. John Bambenek, noted that this will happen as long as the economy favors ransom payments and free cashing, there are many schemes in this area of ​ ​ business.^[2][3]

Ransomware Hacker Attack

In early August 2021, Taiwanese PC component manufacturer Gigabyte was attacked by a ransomware virus. Hackers promise to publish confidential corporate information if the company does not pay a ransom.

The hacker group RansomExx claimed responsibility for the attack on Gigabyte. Attackers report the presence of 112 GB of confidential company data, which will be published if Gigabyte does not agree to comply with the requirements.

Hackers hacked Gigabyte and are demanding a ransom

There is no exact information on how the invasion happened. The ransomware attack most likely came through a phishing email with malicious software. Through an infected computer, such a virus spreads to the rest of the company's computers and servers in order to encrypt as much information as possible. Hackers demand a ransom from the victim for decrypting files, usually in cryptocurrency.

RansomExx has already created a personal darknet page that contains alleged samples of stolen files.

We have downloaded 112 GB (120 971 743 713 bytes) of your files and are ready to publish them. Many of them fall under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) (Intel, AMD, American Megatrends), says the RansomExx blog.

As reported in Gigabyte Taiwanese publication United Daily News, the affected servers are already connected to the network, the incident did not affect the production systems. As soon as the attack was discovered, the company's IT security services immediately took measures to contain the threat. The company did not disclose its further plans, but noted that it continues to study how hackers hacked systems, stole files and encrypted local copies. Local law enforcement agencies were involved in the investigation.^[4]

Agreement with Yandex and Lanit to launch server production in Russia

Yandex informed TAdviser about the launch of server production together with the Lanit group of companies and the computer equipment manufacturer Gigabyte. The companies will create a joint venture that will open a development center - it will design servers and offer its products in Russia and abroad. An agreement on this was signed on June 3, 2021. Read more here.

The fall in the price of shares of the company after the statements about the poor quality of Chinese goods

In mid-May 2021, shares of the Taiwanese company Gigabyte showed a decline on the Taiwanese stock exchange by 10%. The market value of the manufacturer of computer components fell by $550 million. It comes after the company claimed poor quality of Chinese goods.

According to Bloomberg, Gigabyte published a post on its blog saying that the company compares favorably with other unnamed brands that prefer to produce their goods in PRC factories "in a cheap and low-quality way."

Gigabyte spoke out about poor quality of Chinese goods, after which the value of the company's shares fell by 10%

The post was seen by representatives of the Communist Youth League of China and relayed to the social network Weibo. In its publication, Gigabyte employees clarified that the electronics produced by the company in Taiwan are of high quality.

The remarks sparked uproar on Chinese social media and prompted e-commerce operators such as JD.com and Suning.com to remove Gigabyte's product listings from their platform. As of May 12, 2021, the search for the company's goods by the keywords "Gigabyte" and "Jijia" (the Chinese name for the brand) on these sites does not yield any results.

Gigabyte removed the controversial post from its blog and published a new one instead, with an apology. The Taiwanese manufacturer said that the previous statement is seriously contrary to the facts, and that the company is proud of the quality of goods labeled "Made in China."

Gigabyte has partnered with manufacturers in mainland China for more than 20 years. The company will definitely consider inappropriate comments and introduce the necessary corrective measures in accordance with international requirements. Gigabyte will also revise the internal management and training system so that the company's employees no longer make such mistakes, the Gigabyte publication notes.[5]

2013: Server Board Course

In July 2013, it became known that in the context of the declining PC market, computer board manufacturers are looking for new ways to maintain their business, one of which was the reorientation of production to the production of server boards. The sectors of server boards and boards for embedded systems compared to the mass market of motherboards for computers are, although niche, but highly profitable, which is supposed to allow manufacturers to survive difficult times.

Gigabyte Technology decided to combine the telecommunications direction with the production of motherboards in order to produce products for such areas as medicine, construction, industry, advertising and safety management systems. According to the results of the second quarter of 2013, Gigabyte is expected to ship about 4.8 million motherboards, bringing its semi-annual output to 9.9 million units. In the second half of 2013, the production of these products will exceed 10 million units. In total, the company plans to deliver 20 million motherboards in 2013^[6].

2011: Release of the world's first dual SIM communicator

In 2011, Gigabyte Communications released the world's first communicator with 2 SIM cards on OS Android 2.2 - Gigabyte GSmart 1315,1310,1317D,1345,1355.

2008

By 2008, Gigabyte Technology is one of the leaders in the global motherboard market, along with other Taiwanese companies - Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS), Asustek Computer, Micro-Star International (MSI), Foxconn.

2007: Release of the world's first communicator with built-in digital TV tuner

In 2007, Gigabyte Communications released the world's first communicator with a built-in digital TV tuner (DVB-T, DVB-H, T-DMB, DAB) - Gigabyte GSmart t600.

2006: Release of the world's first communicator with built-in analog TV tuner

In 2006, Gigabyte Communications released the world's first communicator with an integrated analog TV tuner (NTSC/PAL/SECAM) - Gigabyte GSmart i128.

2004: Founding of Gigabyte Communications

In February 2004, Gigabyte Communications (GBC) was founded, which is part of the Gygabyte Group.

1986: Founding of the Board Development Company

In 1986, five fellow students founded a company that initially was engaged only in the development of boards, ordering production from other companies, and then, step by step, began to develop its own production facilities.

Notes