North Face and Cartier hit by cyber attacks

North Face and Cartier hit by cyber attacks

Recent cyber attacks have targeted prominent retailers, with fashion brand The North Face and luxury jeweler Cartier both reporting incidents of customer data being stolen. The North Face disclosed that it experienced a “small-scale” attack in April of this year, while Cartier stated that an unauthorized party gained temporary access to its system. Fortunately, both companies confirmed that financial information was not compromised, but customer names and email addresses were among the data stolen.

The rise in cyber attacks on well-known retailers has been evident in recent weeks, with companies like Adidas, Victoria’s Secret, and Harrods also falling victim. In April, Marks and Spencer (M&S) and the Co-op faced significant disruptions to their operations due to cyber attacks. The UK’s National Crime Agency has made apprehending these criminals a top priority in order to safeguard consumer data and prevent further breaches.

The North Face revealed that the hackers behind their attack utilized a technique known as “credential stuffing,” in which stolen usernames and passwords from previous data breaches are used to access accounts. This breach potentially allowed the attackers to view users’ shipping addresses and purchase histories. Similarly, Cartier acknowledged a breach in their system where limited client information was obtained, but passwords and card details were not compromised. Both companies have taken steps to enhance their security measures in response to these incidents.

Cyber security experts emphasize the vulnerability of retailers due to the abundance of customer data they possess. James Hadley, founder of cyber-security company Immersive, noted that retail companies can be easy targets for cyber criminals who use stolen data to impersonate legitimate businesses. This data can then be used to deceive victims into disclosing more sensitive information in the future. The repercussions of these attacks extend beyond data breaches, as seen with Co-op facing empty shelves and M&S anticipating disruptions to its online services until July, resulting in a projected £300m decrease in profits for the current year

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