Sharp Corp. revealed that the personal information of more than 100,000 customers may have been compromised due to unauthorized access to their online services. Despite not detecting any illicit exploitation of the data, the company acknowledged the possibility of credit card information being exposed to unauthorized parties. Specifically, the personal details of 203 individuals, encompassing their names, addresses, and phone numbers, were deemed no longer secure, raising concerns about potential data misuse.
The affected individuals had engaged with Sharp Corp.'s official online Cocoro Store or its food delivery service platform named Healsio Deli between June 23 and 30. Furthermore, a security breach was noted as information on the Cocoro Store was manipulated to redirect visitors to a malevolent website. The company highlighted that around 26,000 users who accessed the official online store or made purchases from July 19 to 22 might have unknowingly installed a computer virus on their personal devices, jeopardizing any newly entered credit card information on the website.
Moreover, an additional 75,000 individuals were identified as potentially impacted after inadvertently installing the virus while visiting the official online store within the same timeframe. In response to the security breach, Sharp Corp. took preventive measures by partially suspending both online platforms on the morning of July 22. Subsequently, they initiated communication with users on July 29, advising them to conduct virus scans on their devices and update passwords to safeguard their information. The company's prompt actions aimed to mitigate any potential risks associated with the unauthorized access and data compromise.