JD Sports Hack Highlights UK Cyber Security Concerns

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Fancy a firewall, mate?

Manchester-based retailer JD Sports is the latest victim in a string of cyber attacks on major UK entities this month. So far, hackers have descended upon retail, postal delivery, fast food, and news outlets.

Of Many Black Hats

On Monday, JD Sports announced that the data of 10 million customers — including names, addresses, emails, phone numbers, and the last four digits of payment cards — were exposed in a recent cyberattack. The company said it doesn’t save full payment info and that there is no reason to believe customers’ online passwords have been obtained. So for now, patrons can rest easy.

The hack might have limited effects on JD’s bottom line. People still need a place to get their Air Jordans, and the company expects to surpass $1 billion in sales for the first time next fiscal year, but the pilfering speaks to growing concern over cyber attacks in the UK. Though not quite fire sale territory, it appears hackers are diversifying their victims:

  • Royal Mail was hacked in mid-January, causing severe disruptions to its international shipping operations and exacerbating the fallout of ongoing staff strikes that had already cost the company more than $200 million. Small businesses and online merchants were hit the hardest with one jeweler telling the Financial Times

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