The international marketing company and events organiser is famous for its trade fairs Baselworld and Art Basel.
In a statement published on Thursday, the MCH group said it had been the victim of a malware attack the pervious day.
Company IT specialists rushed to limit the damage with the support of external experts and federal authorities. An investigation is underway to determine whether any data was stolen.
The incident does not compromise current events and future trade fairs can continue as planned, according to the company, which gave no indication of any ransom being demanded.
The MCH group said it will file criminal charges.
Wave of attacks
Cyber-attacks against public entities and private companies are on the rise in Switzerland, although not all cases become a matter of public knowledge.
On Thursday it was also reported that hackers had broken into the Easygov federal portal and stolen the names of some 130,000 companies who had applied for emergency financial credit during the pandemic. Authorities say no sensitive data was affected.
Other recent victims have included the city of Montreux as well as the canton and city of St. Gallen. Many companies including Zurich, Comparis, Saurer and the Neuchâtel Cantonal Bank have also reported attacks.
In a recent interview published in the bimonthly Beobachter, an expert spoke of 2,694 successful attacks in the past 12 months.
Founded in 2001 through the merger of two companies that managed fairs in Basel and Zurich respectively, the MCH group is listed on the stock exchange, but has significant shares held by public bodies.
At the end of December, it employed 710 people, 355 of whom were based in Switzerland. The coronavirus pandemic put the company in the red in 2020, but it is hoping for a revival through new financing and projects.
Popular Stories
More
Multinational companies
Azeri fossil-fuel cash cow brings controversy to Switzerland
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
More Swiss firms facing cyber-attacks and ransom demands
This content was published on
Ransomware attacks by hackers continue to increase sharply, with some 2,700 Swiss firms falling victim over the past year, Beobachter magazine says.
This content was published on
The number of cyber attacks reported in Switzerland during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic was up to three times higher than normal.
Art Basel returns with galleries and collectors hungry for connection
This content was published on
The prestigious art fair returns this week after a Covid-induced break, and despite the limitations, a good turnout is expected.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.