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A Cyberattack Disrupts One of the
MathWorks, the software titan behind MATLAB and Simulink, has confirmed it suffered a damaging ransomware attack that has caused widespread service outages across its global platforms. The company, known for powering the data analysis and modeling needs of millions of engineers and scientists, is now grappling with a crisis affecting both its internal systems and customer-facing tools.
Service Meltdown at MathWorks: What Happened?
Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts, MathWorks is a cornerstone of the scientific and engineering software industry, serving over 100,000 organizations and 5 million users worldwide. On May 18th, the company suffered a ransomware attack that swiftly disrupted essential services.
The breach has affected several key areas: users have been unable to access core online applications such as the Cloud Center, License Center, File Exchange, and even the MathWorks Store. Internally, staff tools were also impacted. Though some functionality has been restored — including multi-factor authentication and Single Sign-On (SSO) on May 21st — the recovery has been far from complete.
Notably, some customers are still unable to create new accounts, and those who haven’t signed in since October 11, 2024, are completely locked out.
While the company has acknowledged the attack and informed federal authorities, it has not yet disclosed the identity of the perpetrators, whether customer data has been compromised, or if ransom negotiations are ongoing. No hacker group has claimed responsibility so far, raising the possibility that either the ransom was paid quietly, or MathWorks is still in talks behind closed doors.
Attempts to get an official comment from MathWorks have been unsuccessful, deepening the mystery and concern around the attack. This silence leaves customers and industry watchers in suspense, waiting for answers and resolution.
What Undercode Say:
This breach at MathWorks is a critical reminder of how even the most security-conscious companies can be blindsided by sophisticated ransomware attacks. The organization sits at the heart of engineering innovation — from automotive simulations to aerospace design — and any disruption to its services can have ripple effects across multiple industries.
The cyberattack’s timing also raises questions. Coming in mid-May, it’s plausible that attackers chose this window strategically, perhaps to exploit end-of-semester student logins or quarterly system audits.
The temporary loss of access to licensing systems, user accounts, and cloud storage is not just a nuisance. For organizations running mission-critical simulations or academic institutions nearing term-end evaluations, these outages can translate into delayed projects, failed research simulations, and financial losses.
What’s alarming is the silence from ransomware operators. This either means negotiations are delicate and ongoing — which happens often in cases involving sensitive IP and data — or the attackers are playing a longer game. Another possibility is that data exfiltration was part of the plan, and we may see a leak if demands aren’t met soon.
In today’s threat landscape, where multi-factor authentication and strong identity management are touted as safeguards, the fact that MathWorks’ MFA was down for days highlights just how deep the breach went. This wasn’t just a surface-level compromise; attackers had substantial control.
Also worth noting is that MathWorks hasn’t confirmed whether user or corporate data was stolen. Given the value of simulation code and proprietary models on these platforms, if any data was taken, the implications could be vast — both in competitive intelligence and potential downstream attacks on MathWorks’ clients.
The lack of transparency is understandable to some degree, especially during active investigations or negotiations. But users are left in limbo, and a clearer line of communication could go a long way in rebuilding trust.
This attack reinforces the urgent need for every organization — especially those that provide infrastructure to others — to re-evaluate their ransomware readiness, invest in segmented backups, and adopt zero-trust architectures.
It also signals a new era where cyberattacks aim not just to extort money but to paralyze strategic platforms. MathWorks was a high-value target, and the attackers knew exactly what they were doing.
Fact Checker Results ✅
🔍 No official confirmation of stolen data yet
🔍 Ransomware group has not taken responsibility
🔍 Some services remain partially or fully offline
Prediction 🔮
If MathWorks continues to delay public transparency, pressure will build from enterprise clients and academic institutions relying on their tools. We predict a staged disclosure will follow soon — possibly admitting partial data compromise. There’s also a high likelihood that the attackers will leak stolen data if negotiations fail, leading to a second wave of reputational and legal challenges for MathWorks. Meanwhile, the cyberattack may spark widespread updates and stricter compliance checks in software companies serving critical industries.
References:
Reported By: www.bleepingcomputer.com
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