LACROSSE, Wis. – The Kwik Tup convenience chain remained silent for a 10th day on whether it was being held for a multi-million dollar ransom to hackers. The company’s silence on the cause of its crisis was typical of what third-party experts and federal agents advise with ransomware attacks. While vague on whether it was a victim of major criminality, Kwik Trip remained upbeat with customers. In a new emailed statement, the company said that  “full access to many of our internal systems” had been restored. “We anticipate that full functionality will be restored in the coming days,” the company said. It noted too payment card processing systems remained secure and were never affected.

Clerks in dark. Employees at the store level knew too little to offer explanations to customers. This sign, taped to a door, was about all they could say.

Ransomware profile

With ransomware attacks. hackers penetrate and lock a computer system, which becomes inoperable. Then comes a ransom demand: Pay for us to unlock your system. Ransomware attacks typically are from Russia and eastern Europe,, They are deesigned to be difficult trace. Ransoms are required in bitcoin. Ransoms can be massive.  Last month the Milwaukee-based global industrial services company Johnson Contols reportedly paid $51 million.  Kwik Trip, with $5.5 million a day in transactions, would a ripe target. There are 800-some stores with a payroll system for 38,000 employees and complex vertically integrated product lines. It’s been confirmed that telephone and intranet systems at the company’s sprawling LaCrosse headquarters were crippled.  Nobody could talk with anybody else except face to face. There also were inventory control snarl-ups with Kwik Trip’s massive same-day delivery truck distribution routes.

Questions, Kwik answers

> Was sensitive personal data exposed? It’s being investigated. So far there’s no  evidence that personal or confidential information has been compromised.

> Will loyalty points be lost? Continue swiping your Kwik Rewards cards. Points will be awarded once Kwik Rewards is running again.

> What about Kwik Rewards Plus cards?  The credit and debit cards are functioning. All in-store and fuel discounts will appear as credits when systems are fully restored.