Harrods, the prestigious British department store, has alerted certain customers that their personal information may have been compromised due to a breach in its online systems. The company disclosed on Friday that names and contact details of some online shoppers were accessed following a security incident involving one of its third-party service providers.
In an official statement, Harrods clarified that the compromised data is limited to basic personal identifiers, such as names and contact information, and does not include sensitive data like account passwords or payment information. They reassured affected customers that the situation has been addressed and labelled the incident as “isolated”.
Importantly, this breach is not connected to a previous security measure taken in May, when Harrods limited internet access across its sites due to an attempt to illegally access their systems. Additionally, four individuals were arrested in July in relation to cyberattacks against Harrods and two other prominent British retailers, Marks & Spencer and the Co-op. These suspects have since been released on bail as investigations continue.
These incidents are part of a larger trend, as numerous high-profile British businesses have faced cyberattacks recently. For instance, Jaguar Land Rover, the country’s leading automaker, announced that its production lines would remain shut until at least October 1 due to a cyber attack that occurred in August. Furthermore, reports emerged concerning a recent breach at Kido, a nursery chain in London, where hackers allegedly stole and published the personal details of thousands of children, including photos, on the dark web.
The Metropolitan Police are currently investigating the ransomware attack linked to this nursery incident; however, no arrests have yet been made. Harrods and other companies are working diligently to enhance their cybersecurity measures in response to these growing threats, aiming to safeguard consumer information and restore trust in their services.