Samsung Discloses Year-Long Data Breach Affecting UK Customers
Samsung has confirmed a cybersecurity incident in which hackers accessed the personal data of UK-based customers through a year-long breach of its systems. The company reported the breach after discovering unauthorized access to sensitive customer information.
Key Details of the Breach
- Scope: Attackers exploited a vulnerability in a third-party business application to access data from Samsung’s UK e-store.
- Timeframe: The breach affected customers who made purchases between July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020.
- Discovery: Samsung detected the compromise on November 13, 2023—over three years after the breach began.
What Data Was Exposed?
According to Samsung’s notification letter (shared on X, formerly Twitter), hackers may have accessed:
- Names
- Phone numbers
- Postal addresses
- Email addresses
No financial data or passwords were compromised, the company clarified.
Samsung’s Response and Regulatory Action
- Notification: Affected customers were alerted via letter.
- Regulatory Report: Samsung reported the incident to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
- ICO Involvement: A spokesperson confirmed the regulator is investigating the breach.
Lingering Questions
Samsung has not disclosed:
- The number of affected customers.
- The specific third-party application exploited in the attack.
- How hackers initially infiltrated its systems.
A Pattern of Security Incidents
This marks Samsung’s third disclosed breach in two years:
- September 2022: Hackers accessed data from Samsung’s US systems (impact undisclosed).
- March 2022: The Lapsus$ hacking group leaked 200GB of confidential data, including source code and biometric algorithms.
Why This Matters
- Delayed Detection: The breach went undetected for years, raising concerns about Samsung’s security monitoring.
- Third-Party Risks: The incident highlights vulnerabilities in supply-chain and vendor software.
- Regulatory Scrutiny: The ICO’s involvement suggests potential compliance repercussions under UK data protection laws.
Samsung has yet to provide further updates, leaving customers and analysts awaiting more transparency.
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