Recently, many major retailers around the world have suffered cyber attacks, resulting in supply chain disruptions and the leakage of consumer data. The system vulnerability of the wholesale distributor United Natural Foods prevented it from fulfilling orders normally, resulting in shortages of goods on the shelves of retailers such as Whole Foods. British retailers Marks & Spencer and Co-op are also facing problems such as stagnant online orders and shortages of in-store goods due to hacking attacks. Experts point out that ransomware attacks are becoming a major threat. Attackers pressure enterprises to pay ransoms by disrupting supply chains, and the shortage of goods in remote areas is particularly severe.
In addition to business disruptions, cyber attacks also endanger consumers’ personal information, including names, email addresses and credit card data. Experts suggest that users be vigilant against phishing emails, avoid reusing passwords, and enable multi-factor authentication to reduce risks. Brands such as Adidas and The North Face have also disclosed data breach incidents recently. Although the degree of confidentiality varies, they may all be used for downstream fraud.
With the increasing frequency of cyber attacks, enterprises need to enhance their cyber security protection and regard it as a core business risk. Companies such as United Natural Foods and M&S are gradually restoring their systems, but the losses caused by the incident have reached hundreds of millions of dollars. Experts stress that enhancing overall “cyber hygiene” and emergency preparedness is the key to dealing with increasingly complex threats.
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