Adidas says customer data stolen in cyber attack

Adidas has confirmed that it has fallen victim to a cyber attack in which customer data has been accessed by unauthorised parties.

The breach primarily affects individuals who had previously contacted Adidas’ help desk. According to the company, attackers obtained “certain consumer data,” which mainly includes names, email addresses, and phone numbers. Importantly, no passwords, credit card details, or other payment information were compromised.

“We remain fully committed to protecting the privacy and security of our consumers, and sincerely regret any inconvenience or concern caused by this incident,” the company said in a statement on its website.

Consumer Trust at Risk

Consumer rights organisation Which? has urged Adidas to provide clear and timely updates. Lisa Barber, a spokesperson for the group, warned that affected individuals could be targeted by scammers.

She advised customers to:

• Monitor bank accounts and credit reports for suspicious activity
• Be cautious of unsolicited emails, phone calls, or social media messages
• Avoid clicking on links or attachments claiming to be from Adidas

How Adidas Has Responded

Adidas explained that the breach originated from a third-party customer service provider. Once identified, the company acted quickly to contain the issue and launched a full investigation with support from cybersecurity experts.

Affected customers are being contacted directly, and relevant data protection and law enforcement bodies have been notified.

No Disruption to Business Operations

While recent cyber attacks on retailers like Marks & Spencer and Co-op caused significant business disruption, Adidas has stated that there is no evidence of operational impacts in this case.

However, this is not an isolated event for the company. Earlier this month, Adidas also reported data breaches affecting its operations in Turkey and South Korea.

Cyber Threats Continue to Grow

Cybersecurity incidents have surged in recent months. UK police are currently investigating a hacker group known as Scattered Spider, suspected to be behind recent attacks on M&S, Harrods, and the Co-op. M&S, for example, estimates the financial impact of its breach to be around £300 million.

There is no suggestion that this group is involved in the Adidas incident.

What Should Customers Do?

If you believe you may be affected, here are a few steps to take:

• Be on the lookout for official emails from Adidas
• Consider changing passwords on any accounts that share information with your Adidas profile
• Report any suspicious messages or phishing attempts

As always, staying alert and taking basic precautions can go a long way in protecting your personal information.