Kering data breach: Gucci and Balenciaga owner confirms hack

Kering, the parent company of renowned luxury brands like Gucci, Saint Laurent, and Balenciaga, has confirmed that it experienced a data breach earlier this year. The breach was identified in June, revealing that an unauthorized third party had temporarily accessed their systems, leading to the compromise of limited customer data from various brands within the company. Importantly, Kering has stated that no financial data—such as bank account numbers, credit card details, or government-issued IDs—was included in the leak. A spokesperson for Kering emphasized to the BBC that the incident involved only a restricted amount of customer information. The hacking group responsible for this breach, known as Shiny Hunters, claims to have accessed data linked to approximately 7.4 million unique email addresses. As evidence of their attack, they provided the BBC with a small sample containing thousands of customer details, which included sensitive sales information that could potentially expose high-spending customers to further scams or hacks. According to the group, they initiated contact with Kering in early June after breaching the luxury brands' systems in April. They have indicated that negotiations are ongoing, with ransom demands set to be paid in Bitcoin. Kering has firmly denied any engagement with the hackers, stating that they have no intention of paying a ransom. The company has taken steps to notify the relevant authorities and inform customers regarding the breach, ensuring transparency during this unsettling time. Kering’s commitment to security remains steadfast, as they continue to address the consequences of this incident.