Computer Virus Cripples Chipmaker TSMC

Chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. shut down several of its factories on Friday night after its systems were hit by a computer virus. TSMC is the largest semiconductor manufacturer in the world, and supplies components for companies like ADM, Apple, Nvidia, and Qualcomm. The company says the virus infected a “number of its fabrication tools,” but that the “degree of infection varies” from factory to factory. Several have resumed their operations. The company indicated that its factories were not infected by a hacker, the Verge reported. “TSMC has been attacked by viruses before,” CFO Lora Ho said, “but this is the first time a virus attack has affected our production lines.” She did not disclose whether or not the affected lines were producing processors for Apple, nor what revenue has been lost as a result. The slowdown comes at a critical time for the company, as many tech firms are working to release their next generation of products this fall.