More than 9.6 million pieces of confidential customer data were stolen by hackers who, according to an investigation, broke into the IT system of Portuguese retail chain Worten, Lisbon police said on Wednesday.
According to the investigators' findings so far, quoted by CNN Portugal, the theft case came to light after the data of Worten customers appeared for sale on the dark web, the so-called dark web, whose resources are accessible using special software.
Hackers who stole customer data from a chain specializing in the sale of RTV, household appliances and consumer electronics have obtained, among other things, the names and phone numbers, as well as the addresses of people purchasing the Portuguese chain's products.
Additionally, hackers who put the data up for sale on Tuesday took over invoices and bank card numbers used to pay for the goods.
The Soane Group, which oversees the Worten network, said it had “activated a special security protocol” following the data leak and was working with police to establish the extent of the information leak.
According to CNN Portugal, despite the network operator's declaration that its IT system had allegedly not been breached by hackers, an investigation is ongoing to determine whether confidential bank data, such as payment card codes, fell into the hands of cybercriminals.
From Lisbon Marcin Zatyka (PAP)
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