German Division Retailer Group KaDeWe Attacked by Russian Hackers

PARIS — German division retailer group KaDeWe fended off a cyber assault from Russian hacker collective Play, the Berlin-based division retailer stated Tuesday.

It applied emergency measures by taking some operations offline, however emphasised that bank card cost programs remained safe by the in a single day assault on Nov. 2. The group stated it’s working with the German cybercrime authorities to find out the scope of the assault.

KaDeWe Group operates three luxurious department shops in Germany, together with KaDeWe in Berlin, Alsterhaus in Hamburg and Oberpollinger in Munich.

The group stated the assault had been successfully contained due to safety measures already in place. Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless working to find out if buyer data programs have been breached.

“With the help of specialised forensic consultants, we’re working at full velocity to acquire a whole image of the scope of the assault,” the corporate stated in a press release. “Not least for investigative causes, we aren’t but in a position to say whether or not and to what extent knowledge has been stolen throughout the affected space.”

Nevertheless, buyer passwords had been “not throughout the attackers’ attain,” it added.

Hacker group Play emerged in 2022 with a collection of ransomware assaults concentrating on corporations and governmental establishments together with judiciary targets in Argentina and the federal government administration in Switzerland. It has additionally attacked personal corporations.

The group stated it has applied further precautionary measures till a secure IT infrastructure is totally restored.

The assault comes at a transitional time for KaDeWe Group.

Former chief government officer André Maeder left the corporate Oct. 31 for London-based luxurious division retailer group Selfridges. He was succeeded by former chief monetary officer Michael Peterseim, who stepped into the highest spot Nov. 1.

Austrian property developer Signa, which owns a minority stake in KaDeWe, is on the snapping point because of the latest spike in rates of interest and declining actual property values. Founder René Benko has been eliminated as firm chairman.

On Monday, KaDeWe Group issued a press release noting it’s not financially depending on Signa and can proceed operations as standard. It’s backed by majority shareholder Central Group of Thailand.

The group is creating further department shops, with Carsch-Haus in Düsseldorf and Lamarr in Vienna scheduled to open in spring 2025.