Author: DIGITIMES Chen Yujuan
In response to the computer system virus infection incident on August 3, the global wafer foundry leader TSMC finally held a press conference on the Stock Exchange on the 6th, and President Wei Zhejia attended the explanation in person. Wei Zhejia once again emphasized that the shutdown on August 3 has nothing to do with hackers, kidnapping and extortion, USB USB drives, etc., and is purely a human negligence. It is because the new machine was not isolated before connecting to the network to ensure that there is no virus, causing the "WannaCry" variant virus to enter the company's network, so that the affected machines cannot run and some automatic handling systems cannot run normally. After rigorous inspection and drug prevention, work has resumed in full swing, and the impact on revenue in the third quarter has also been reduced from 3% to below 2%, about NT$5.2 billion. The annual profit may be slightly reduced, but it will make every effort to achieve the annual financial forecast growth target.
TSMC encountered a major security incident since its establishment on the 3rd, causing the shutdown of the Zhuke, Zhongke and Nanke factories. TSMC officially held a major information briefing on the 6th to clarify the rumors and the impacts of the outside world. Wei Zhejia reiterated that this incident was not a hacker attack, but some computer systems and factory stations in Taiwan's factory have immediately started emergency response procedures.
This incident caused an operation error in the new machine during the installation of the software. When installing the new machine on the 3rd, the machine was not isolated before connecting to the network to ensure that there were no viruses, causing the "WannaCry" variant virus to enter the company's network, causing the machine to crash or restart. The infected machines, automatic handling systems, and related computer systems mainly use Windows 7 but do not install correction software on the machine automation interface, so that the affected machines cannot run and some automatic handling systems cannot run normally.
Wei Zhejia admitted that the virus was hidden in a new machine at the beginning, and there was only one. The relevant personnel did not carry out anti-virus viruses in accordance with the regulations, resulting in the rapid spread of the virus. Because the internal production networks of the North Central and South Science Factory were connected to each other, the impact was so great.
TSMC's main computer systems, including production and manufacturing databases and customer information, are not affected by this virus. After the incident, TSMC immediately shut down the affected machines and automatic handling systems and installs all correction software. At present, all factory areas have resumed work and production is normal.
financial losses, Wei Zhejia estimated that this incident will lead to delays in the third quarter wafer shipment, but the impact on revenue in the third quarter will not exceed 2%, which will be reduced from 3% previously estimated, and the gross profit margin will drop by about 1 percentage point. We are confident that the delays in the third quarter wafer shipment will be fully compensated in the fourth quarter. Therefore, the annual performance outlook will continue to maintain the high single-digit growth set by the previous legal club. Wei Zhejia did not further explain the affected customers, related processes, and equipment factory.
Finance Minister He Limei explained that this incident has increased costs such as scrapped wafers and raw material procurement, which will affect gross profit margins and will indeed have a little impact on profits, but TSMC will work harder to achieve growth goals.
Wei Zhejia said that TSMC has installed tens of thousands of equipment and machines so far. This is the first time that such a thing has happened. The more advanced the process equipment, the more complex the system, the higher the automation, and the speed of resumption of work will be greater. In the future, it will continue to strengthen and strictly implement the standard operating procedure (SOP), and continue to understand the trend of the virus, immediately take corresponding anti-virus measures in the factory, establish a fire prevention mechanism, prevent such incidents from happening again, and further strengthen information security protection. The most important thing at present is production and delivery, and the relevant machine manufacturers will not be held accountable for compensation. All customers also believe in TSMC's production efficiency and quality.
The first major security incident occurred in 2 months after TSMC's new team officially started, which scared customers, supply chains and investors. The poisoning of a machine caused TSMC's production line to be shut down, and the losses exceeded expectations. It may also affect the launch schedule of new products from major international customers and make the issue of security once again the focus.
