Ethical Hacking News
Ahold Delhaize, a multinational grocery giant, has confirmed that it was the victim of a cyberattack that forced its US and European systems offline. The company's second cyberattack in two years has left millions of customers' data compromised, highlighting the ongoing threat of cyberattacks in the retail sector.
Ahold Delhaize has confirmed a cyberattack that forced its US and European systems offline. The attack was attributed to "malicious actions of others" and was taken as a precautionary measure to protect its systems. The physical stores remained open, but some IT systems, including websites and apps, were offline, affecting most of its brands across Europe and the US. The company has filed a report with the Dutch police and notified the Dutch National Cyber Security Centre about the digital intruders. This is Ahold Delhaize's second cyberattack in two years, with the first incident occurring in November 2024. The company is taking steps to restore affected services, including home deliveries and e-commerce services. The incident highlights the ongoing threat of cyberattacks in the retail sector and the importance of robust cybersecurity measures.
Ahold Delhaize, a multinational grocery giant operating in the US and Europe, has confirmed that it was the victim of a cyberattack that forced its US and European systems offline. The company, which operates brands such as Food Lion, Giant Food, and Stop & Shop, disclosed the incident on October 12, stating that security teams took "some" IT systems offline to mitigate the issue. However, it was only on Monday that the company officially confirmed the nature of the attack, attributing it to "malicious actions of others."
According to the company, the attack was a precautionary measure taken to protect its systems, which resulted in the offline of certain IT systems, including websites and apps, affecting most of its brands across Europe and the United States. The physical stores remained open, and the investigation has not uncovered any evidence to suggest that the miscreants stole any sensitive customer, associate, or partner data.
The company has filed a report with the Dutch police and notified the Dutch National Cyber Security Centre about the digital intruders. Albert Heijn's website and app are back online, and the company expects home deliveries to resume on Friday. Belgian e-commerce is fully operational, and e-commerce services at Ahold Delhaize's American brands are expected to work in the coming days.
This latest cyberattack is Ahold Delhaize's second in two years. The first incident occurred in November 2024, when an unknown entity, claiming to be from a group called INC Ransom, disrupted brands across the organization. The attack resulted in some Stop & Shop stores struggling to fill prescriptions, while Food Lion employees reported delayed and missing deliveries. Ahold Delhaize ultimately determined that over 2.2 million people's data, including personal, financial, and health details, had been compromised.
The company's president and CEO, Frans Muller, stated that taking systems offline to help protect them was a precautionary measure that affected most of its brands across Europe and the United States. The investigation to date confirms that this was the right decision, according to Muller.
It is worth noting that this latest cyberattack has raised concerns about the security of critical infrastructure in the retail sector. The attacks on refrigeration controllers at hundreds of French supermarkets beginning October 11 reportedly pushed temperatures as high as 122°F (50°C), spoiling food and causing fires at some locations.
The incident has also highlighted the ongoing threat of cyberattacks in the retail sector. Ahold Delhaize's second cyberattack in two years serves as a reminder of the importance of robust cybersecurity measures to protect against such threats. The company's proactive response to the attack, including the offline of certain IT systems, demonstrates its commitment to protecting its customers' data and preventing further disruptions to its operations.
In light of this incident, it is essential to emphasize the importance of cybersecurity awareness and preparedness in the retail sector. The ongoing threat of cyberattacks requires retailers to maintain robust cybersecurity measures, including regular updates, patches, and monitoring of their systems. Ahold Delhaize's experience serves as a cautionary tale for retailers to prioritize cybersecurity and invest in measures to protect against such threats.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Grocery-Giant-Ahold-Delhaize-Faces-Second-Cyberattack-in-Two-Years-Leaves-Millions-of-Customers-Data-Compromised-ehn.shtml
https://www.theregister.com/security/2026/10/19/grocery-giant-ahold-delhaize-confirms-cyberattack-forced-us-and-european-systems-offline/5303970
Published: Mon Oct 19 17:49:33 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
