Ethical Hacking News
A Japanese e-tailer has been hit by a ransomware attack, leaving its online sales crippled for nearly five weeks. The company's Warehouse Management System was compromised, forcing it to suspend logistics services and shut down its website. Askul's experience highlights the importance of robust cybersecurity measures in e-commerce businesses.
Akscal, a Japanese e-tailer, suffered a devastating cyber attack that crippled its online sales for nearly five weeks.The attack compromised sensitive customer data, including names and contact information, which were leaked online.Akscal's Warehouse Management System was also affected, forcing the company to suspend logistics services and shut down its website.The company initially tried to mitigate the effects of the attack by implementing a fax ordering service for medical institution customers.Akscal's security team has revealed that they may have inadvertently spilled sensitive customer data during the ransomware attack.The incident highlights the importance of robust cybersecurity measures in e-commerce businesses, including disaster recovery systems and security protocols.Akscal is now ready to resume online sales with improved security measures, but consumer-facing services are still offline.
In a stark reminder of the ever-present threat of ransomware attacks, Japanese e-tailer Askul has recently suffered a devastating cyber attack that has left its online sales crippled for nearly five weeks. The attack, which occurred on October 19, resulted in the compromise of sensitive customer data, including names and contact information, which were leaked online.
According to reports, Askul's Warehouse Management System was compromised by the ransomware attack, forcing the company to suspend its logistics services and shut down its website for several days. The attack had a ripple effect on the company's operations, with many of its business partners and suppliers also affected. The company's consumer-facing brand, Lohaco, which has partnerships with major brands such as Muji and Yahoo Japan, was severely impacted by the attack.
In a bizarre twist, Askul initially attempted to mitigate the effects of the attack by implementing a fax ordering service for its medical institution customers. The move was seen as an attempt to salvage what was left of its operations while it worked on restoring its online services. However, this plan was soon expanded to include more products and distribution centers.
In a surprising turn of events, Askul's security team has revealed that the company may have inadvertently spilled sensitive customer data during the ransomware attack. This admission raises questions about the company's preparedness for handling such incidents and its commitment to protecting customer data.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of robust cybersecurity measures in e-commerce businesses. Askul's experience highlights the need for companies to invest in robust disaster recovery systems, implement strict security protocols, and have contingency plans in place to mitigate the effects of cyber attacks.
With its Warehouse Management System now restored with improved security measures, Askul has announced that it is ready to resume online sales, albeit with some caveats. The company's business-to-business (B2B) services will be available first, with delivery times expected to be slightly longer than before the attack. However, it remains to be seen when Askul's consumer-facing businesses will return online.
Askul's experience is broadly comparable to that of British retailer Marks & Spencer, which suffered a ransomware attack in 2021, resulting in significant financial losses and a decline in profits. The incident serves as a cautionary tale for e-commerce businesses about the importance of prioritizing cybersecurity.
As companies navigate the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats, it is essential to have robust disaster recovery systems in place and to invest in robust security measures to mitigate the effects of such incidents. Askul's experience highlights the need for e-commerce businesses to prioritize cybersecurity and to be prepared for the worst-case scenario.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Ransomware-Attack-on-Japanese-E-Tailer-Askul-A-Wake-Up-Call-for-E-Commerce-Security-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/12/03/askul_partial_ransomware_recovery/
Published: Wed Dec 3 00:56:06 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
