Infosecurity Magazine reported on 13 October that several European retailers confirmed cyber incidents. Ahold Delhaize, a Dutch group, said on 12 October it had a security problem and took some systems offline. Three of its brands were reported hit: Albert Heijn, Etos and Gall & Gall. Reuters reported that South Africa's The Foschini Group (TFG) learned of an incident on 11 October at its UK arm, TFG London. Reported affected brands include Phase Eight, Hobbs and Whistles. TFG said it sees no reason so far to think payment data is at risk.
The sources do not say what caused either incident. TFG said Inside Story, White Stuff and its Africa and Australia units are unaffected. The Times reported that H&M is checking online information about a possible incident; H&M said it found no sign its data was compromised. Infosecurity says nothing links these cases. The sources do not describe either group's system design.
Huntress adviser Muhammad Yahya Patel reads the untouched brands and regions as a sign TFG kept some systems apart. That is his view; the sources do not confirm it. As general background, a login shared by several brands, or one flat network, can let trouble in one brand reach another. Leaders can ask whether one stolen login could open another brand's systems.