Western Digital, an Irvine CA based company who makes digital storage devices and technology, recently revealed that they experienced a security issue on March 26. An unauthorized person gained access to some of their systems without permission. As a result, Western Digital took many of their servers offline, which caused problems for customers who couldn’t access their data remotely.

As you can guess, everyone is concerned. Joseph Carson, who is a security scientist, said that it’s a reminder of what can happen when attackers gain access to a company’s network. He pointed out that since Western Digital is a cloud storage company with many customers, the impact of the breach is even greater because many consumers and businesses couldn’t access their important data remotely.

Tom Kellermann, a cyber strategy expert, shared similar worries. He called this a significant supply chain attack, which means that it could have a widespread impact on e-commerce. He also mentioned that if this attack was done by a rogue nation state, it could have national security implications that last for months.

On the positive side, Erich Kron, an advocate for security awareness, praised Western Digital for quickly addressing the issue and being transparent about it. He also said that it’s important for organizations to have a plan to deal with network attacks that could lead to ransomware, a type of malicious software that can lock up data until a ransom is paid. Kron mentioned that many of these attacks happen because of human error, so it’s important for employees to be trained and educated about how to spot email phishing attacks and other tricks used by hackers.

Western Digital said that they are working with law enforcement authorities to investigate the incident, and they will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Western Digital experienced a security breach that affected their systems and caused disruption for their customers. Experts are concerned about the impact of this breach and emphasize the importance of organizations having plans in place to deal with network attacks. Western Digital is actively investigating the incident and working with authorities to resolve the issue.

Western Digital is a company that manufactures data storage devices, including flash drives, SSD hard drives, server and IT solutions. Flash drives are small devices that can store and transfer data, such as documents, photos, and videos. Western Digital uses advanced technology to create USB flash drives by integrating memory chips, controllers, and other components into a compact and portable design. The memory chips store data in a way that allows it to be quickly accessed and transferred. The controllers manage the flow of data between the memory chips and the device it’s connected to, ensuring smooth operation. Western Digital follows strict quality control and testing processes to ensure that their flash drives are reliable and durable. Once the flash drives are manufactured, they are packaged and distributed to retailers for sale to consumers and businesses for various data storage needs.

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Update — As of Sep 2025

Quick rewind: in April 2023, the U.S. Justice Department announced a settlement with Micron over an Immigration and Nationality Act hiring violation — back pay of $85,000 to the affected worker, a civil penalty, required training, policy fixes, and a two-year monitoring period. That clock started then. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

As of April 2025, that two-year window has run its course. The DOJ’s public materials haven’t flagged any extension or follow-on enforcement tied to this matter — which, in plain English, suggests Micron did what it said it would do and the government didn’t see cause (so far) to push further. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

A small footnote worth keeping: while DOJ press language didn’t specify the penalty amount, multiple industry/legal summaries pegged the civil penalty at $4,144, alongside the $85,000 back-pay figure. Think of that as the “administrative sting,” with the real teeth being training, policy changes, and monitoring. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Morris take: compliance isn’t a finish line; it’s a treadmill. Micron has been broadcasting governance and ethics updates in 2025 filings and sustainability materials — the right kind of noise if you’re trying to keep regulators, customers, and investors calm. No drama beats new drama every time. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

The Justice Department has reached a settlement with Micron Technology Inc., headquartered in Boise, Idaho, after finding the company violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The case centered on allegations that Micron discriminated against a U.S. citizen during hiring by favoring a temporary visa holder instead.

The investigation began after a U.S. citizen filed a complaint claiming he was unfairly denied a job. Federal investigators confirmed that Micron had chosen a temporary visa worker without fully considering the citizen’s qualifications. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), employers are prohibited from discriminating against job applicants based on citizenship, immigration status, or national origin unless specifically required by law.

As part of the settlement, Micron agreed to pay a civil penalty to the U.S. government and provide $85,000 in back pay to the affected worker. In addition, the company must retrain its staff on INA’s anti-discrimination rules, update hiring policies, and submit to federal monitoring for two years.

The Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division enforces the INA, which protects workers from discrimination in hiring, firing, recruitment, and employment eligibility verification. It also prohibits unfair documentary practices, retaliation, and intimidation. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke underscored that the Department will hold companies accountable for violations regardless of their size or industry.

This settlement is a reminder that compliance with civil rights laws must go hand in hand with corporate hiring practices, especially for companies as large and visible as Micron, a global leader in semiconductors and memory products.

Micron memory solutions include both DRAM and NAND flash memory. DRAM provides high-speed, temporary storage for active data and is critical in applications such as gaming, cloud computing, and enterprise workloads. NAND flash memory, a non-volatile technology, is widely used in SSDs, memory cards, and USB flash drives for long-term data storage. These technologies are key components in smartphones, servers, and data centers worldwide.

Known for reliability and energy efficiency, Micron’s products continue to power a range of industries—from automotive systems to consumer electronics and industrial automation—making the company a cornerstone in today’s digital infrastructure. While the lawsuit highlights compliance issues, it does not change Micron’s global reputation as a major innovator in memory and storage solutions.

M&G Investment Management Ltd. purchased a significant stake in Silicon Motion Technology Co. during the fourth quarter of 2022. The move came even as Silicon Motion (NASDAQ: SIMO) navigated a period of weaker-than-expected revenue, showing that M&G was betting on long-term growth rather than short-term earnings.

Silicon Motion, often shortened to SMI, is a leading developer of microcontrollers for NAND flash storage. Their chips sit at the heart of solid-state drives (SSDs), embedded multimedia cards (eMMCs), and flash solutions used in mobile devices, digital cameras, and industrial applications. The company’s engineering focus on speed, power efficiency, and durability has made it a trusted supplier in consumer, enterprise, and automotive markets.

The UK-based M&G Investment Management Ltd. saw opportunity despite market turbulence. By acquiring more shares, M&G expressed confidence that Silicon Motion’s roadmap of storage controllers and flash management software would translate into long-term gains. The UK firm, founded in 1931, is known for its disciplined, research-driven approach and is increasingly focused on companies aligned with digital transformation and sustainability themes.

Why M&G Chose Silicon Motion

Several factors made Silicon Motion attractive. First, rising demand for flash memory across data centers, smartphones, and cars created steady tailwinds. SMI’s NAND flash controllers are embedded in SSDs, USB flash drives, and memory cards, with clients ranging from global OEMs to niche storage specialists like Nexcopy.

Second, the company’s commitment to innovation stands out. Heavy investments in R&D and a deep intellectual property portfolio keep SMI at the forefront of controller design, ready to adapt as NAND geometry and system requirements evolve. This focus on continuous product refresh cycles ensures relevance even in volatile memory markets.

Third, Silicon Motion’s financial stability added to its appeal. With consistent cash flow generation, the company has been able to return capital to shareholders while also reinvesting in product development. That combination of resilience and growth potential is exactly what long-horizon investors like M&G look for.

Finally, the acquisition aligned with M&G’s strategy to back disruptive technology leaders. As global data creation accelerates, storage is mission-critical infrastructure. By increasing its position in Silicon Motion, M&G positioned itself to benefit from rising demand for SSDs, edge devices, and secure storage solutions.

In short, the Q4 2022 purchase underlined a vote of confidence: despite market headwinds, M&G believes Silicon Motion has the product depth, balance sheet strength, and vision to remain a dominant force in flash memory controllers for years to come.