German hearing aid manufacturer Kind has been the target of a hacker attack. In addition to the head office near Hannover, communication with more than 600 specialty stores is also affected, according to a company spokesperson. There are currently no indications that customer data has been stolen. The systems were immediately shut down in the hope of preventing major damage.
The systems would now be checked and then gradually restarted, it said on Thursday. Until then, restrictions remain in place at the branches. The “Hannoversche Allgemeine” had reported this earlier. According to the information, the attack took place on February 6. They became aware of this due to irregularities in the IT system. The IT department then started taking security measures. The police and the data protection officer have been informed.
Communication limited
According to the information, communication with the approximately 600 branches was also limited. After an IT failure, contact is only possible by telephone. Orders cannot be recorded directly on the computer and are sometimes recorded with paper and pen. However, the specialty stores are still open and can operate, the spokesperson emphasizes. Customers would continue to receive advice and support. Payment by debit card was temporarily not possible and customers had to pay in cash. The spokesperson added that card payments are now working again.
“We responded quickly and are optimistic that we have been able to prevent greater damage,” the spokesperson said. So far, there are no signs of data being encrypted or personal information stolen. However, it is still too early for a definitive judgement. It is unclear how the hackers were able to break into the computer system and what their goal was. The company initially did not provide information about the extent of the damage. That has yet to be determined.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
