The Salamander shoe manufacturer, known for its mascot “Lurchi,” has experienced a significant cyber attack that led to the shutdown of its internal IT systems and parts of its internet presence. This attack has affected both their online shop and physical branches. Since April 19, 2024, the brand’s online shop has only displayed an apology page citing “technical reasons” for the outage. According to records from the “Wayback Machine,” Salamander, operated by Klauser Gmbh & Co KG, has been grappling with major IT issues that impact more than sixty branches. Despite these challenges, the branches remain open, although some, like the Hanover location, have been experiencing supply problems.
Klauser Gmbh & Co KG issued a press release stating that the cyber attack forced them to shut down their IT systems. However, with the help of both internal and external forces, important business processes were successfully restored by the end of April. Despite these efforts, the online shop remains unusable. It is not yet clear whether the attack was a ransomware attack, as no known ransomware groups have claimed responsibility, and according to Klauser, no data was likely leaked.
The Salamander shoe chain, famous for its mascot Lurchi, has been a beloved brand for decades. Lurchi has been a part of free “Lurchi magazines” for 85 years, providing children with stories and adventures. However, due to the shoe chain’s bankruptcy last year, Lurchi and his friends have found a new home with Supremo, another shoe retailer that uses the popular fictional character under license. Fortunately, Supremo’s online shop has not been affected by the cyber attack. This incident underscores the ongoing challenges that businesses face in protecting their digital infrastructure against cyber threats.
