On July 29, Sharp Corp. revealed that a significant data breach may have compromised the personal information of over 100,000 customers. The breach involved unauthorized access to two of Sharp’s online services: the Cocoro Store and the Healsio Deli food delivery site. According to the company, the compromised data includes sensitive details such as names, addresses, and phone numbers of 203 individuals who had placed orders between June 23 and June 30. Sharp has indicated that while there is no confirmed evidence of illegal use of the stolen information, the possibility of exposed credit card details cannot be ruled out.
The breach also included a corruption of the Cocoro Store’s website, which inadvertently led visitors to a malicious site. This corruption is suspected to have caused the installation of a computer virus on users’ devices, particularly affecting those who logged onto the website from July 19 to July 22. The virus could have potentially exposed newly added credit card information of those users. In addition, approximately 75,000 other individuals may have been inadvertently exposed to the virus during this period.
In response to the breach, Sharp took immediate action by partially suspending both affected websites on the morning of July 22. The company began notifying impacted users on July 29 and advised them to perform thorough scans of their devices for malware and to change their passwords to secure their accounts. Sharp is conducting a detailed investigation into the incident to understand the extent of the data compromise and to prevent future breaches.
The breach highlights a critical need for enhanced cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive customer data. As Sharp works to address the immediate fallout and bolster its security protocols, customers are encouraged to remain vigilant and monitor their financial accounts for any signs of suspicious activity. This incident underscores the broader issue of data security in an increasingly digital world, where protecting personal information remains a paramount concern.
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