Louis Vuitton suffers a new data leak in Hong Kong: luxury goods cybersecurity in question

Louis Vuitton is facing its third cyber-attack in just a few weeks. After South Korea and the UK, Hong Kong has now been hit by a massive data leak.

The digital security of major luxury brands is under severe strain. After two previous incidents in Asia and Europe, Louis Vuitton has confirmed a new leak of sensitive data. This time, it is its Hong Kong division that has been targeted, in a computer attack that is believed to have compromised the personal data of almost 419,000 customers.

According to information relayed by Bloomberg, the hacked files include identity, contact details, purchase history and, in some cases, copies of passports. Although no banking data has been affected, the scale of the leak raises questions about the security measures in place.

Late notification?

The attack is believed to have occurred on June 13, but Louis Vuitton’s local division was late in notifying the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, which has since opened an investigation. As in previous cases, the company is keeping a tight lid on the chronology of events, a point that is likely to weigh heavily in the authorities’ analysis.

This latest breach comes at a tense time for luxury brands, which are regularly targeted by sophisticated attacks. Dior, Tiffany & Co, and more recently Cartier have also been victims of hacking attacks since the spring.

Luxury, a strategic target

With their upscale image, financial clout and high-powered clientele, the big houses have become ideal targets for hackers. The accelerated development of e-commerce since the pandemic has multiplied digital entry points and the volumes of data collected. These files are of equal interest to cyber-extortion networks, counterfeiting networks and industrial espionage networks.

With Paris, the world capital of luxury goods, home to some of these groups’ strategic headquarters, this latest attack raises questions about the digital maturity of the sector’s giants and the confidentiality they offer their customers.

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