Kmart in customer data hack attack

Paul Madill
By Paul Madill | 2 October 2015
 
Kmart campaign by BWM.

Kmart Australia is running the risk of having some seriously hacked off punters after an "external privacy breach" of its online order system led to customers' information being revealed.

Emails were sent out by the retailer to notify those affected, though Kmart insisted that "no online customer credit card or other payment details have been compromised or accessed".

The affected data was limited to name, email address, delivery and billing addresses, as well as telephone numbers and details of the products purchased.

"An email was sent directly to those customers whose details were accessed to inform them of this situation and Kmart Australia has posted details of the breach on its social media pages," said a statement from Kmart.

"This breach only impacts a selection of customers who have shopped online with Kmart Australia. If customers have not received a message from Kmart Australia regarding this situation they have not been impacted."

This is not the first attack on the retailer's web platforms. Kmart's US setup was hacked last year in a more serious case where customers' card numbers were exposed, though Kmart US and Kmart Australia are separately-owned entities. As such, it is not thought these two incidents are related.

"As soon as Kmart Australia was made aware of this breach, immediate action was taken to stop any further information being accessed. The safety and security of customer’s private information is a priority for Kmart Australia.

"Kmart Australia has engaged leading IT forensic investigators and has contacted the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner and Australian Federal Police to thoroughly review this matter.

"Kmart Australia is unable to make any further comment at this time," said Kmart.

Kmart has made its apologies, and urged anyone concerned to get in touch on 1800 124 125.

Did you read about the Ashley Madison in data hacking affair and Ashley Madison part two – hackers dump all data online?

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