Why is H&M trending today?
H&M is trending because the company is looking into reports that it was targeted by cybercriminals called Shinyhunters. This follows a series of recent cyberattacks on other retail brands, including ASOS and TFG London.
What happened
- Earlier
ASOS reported that an unauthorized party accessed personal data, including contact details [1], [2].
- 11 Oct
TFG London identified a cybersecurity incident affecting IT systems for Hobbs, Whistles, and Phase Eight [2], [3].
- 12 Oct
Cyberhackers disrupted refrigeration systems at Coopérative U and Intermarché stores in France [2].
- 14 Oct
H&M confirmed it is investigating claims of a potential security incident [2].
What you need to know
H&M has stated it currently sees no evidence that its data environment was compromised [2].
TFG London's stores remain open, though some website functions and order processing are disrupted [2].
TFG London reports no reason to believe payment information was put at risk [1], [3].
It is not confirmed if H&M's systems were actually breached or if any data was stolen. It is also unknown if any of the targeted companies paid ransoms [2].
Background
The retail sector is facing an increase in cyber threats. A group called Xuanye Group recently used AI to access ASOS data via the storage firm Snowflake and demanded a ransom [2].
The UK government has suggested it may create new laws to protect critical infrastructure from AI-powered cyberattacks following these incidents [2].
Questions people ask
Was my H&M data stolen?
H&M is investigating claims of an attack but says it has found no indication that its data environment was compromised [2].
Which other UK brands were affected?
ASOS and TFG London brands including Phase Eight, Hobbs, and Whistles have been hit by cybersecurity incidents [1], [2].
Where this came from
[1] standard.co.uk
Hobbs, Whistles and Phase Eight fashion brands hit by cyberattack
Preview image from standard.co.uk
[2] internetretailing.net
TFG, H&M and InterMarché all targeted by cybercriminals as threat to retail rockets
Preview image from internetretailing.net
[3] news.stv.tv
Hobbs and Whistles owner struck by cyber attack
Preview image from news.stv.tv
Found through Google Trends and drafted with AI from at least two cited sources. Published automatically after passing our automated checks for sources, wording and safety. It may not have been reviewed by a person yet. Report a correction.