Casa falls victim to hackers

Belgian interior decoration chain Casa has fallen victim to a group of hackers who have taken the retailer’s computer systems hostage. Customer data have also been leaked.

Personal data leaked

Casa states that it became the victim of a cyber attack on 1 August: a group of hackers penetrated the retailer’s computer systems and took its data hostage. The interior design chain says that the IT systems were encrypted and some personal data were leaked, even though the company’s security software picked up on the attack quickly.

Potentially leaked personal data includes customers’ names, addresses, email addresses and phone numbers, but the chain reassures that it does not store bank and payment data itself. As an external provider processes that data, they remain secure. However, customers can now receive phishing mails and messages.

Yet another hit

The attack has impacted customers in all countries where the chain is active, as the target was its international head office. However, the shops and the web shop were not affected and are fully operational. Home delivery orders are being delivered with some delay, the company said in a multilingual announcement.

Casa has called in the help of a crisis team and has also already filed a complaint against unknown perpetrators. The retailer is by no means the first – or the last – to be the target of cyber attacks. Large retailers such as Media Markt, Delhaize and Ikea have also been victims in the past. At Media Markt, the hackers demanded a ransom of 50 million dollars (in bitcoin).