Phase Eight and Hobbs owner hit by cyber-attack, as H&M probes separate hack claim

Key points

• TFG London, owner of Phase Eight, Hobbs and Whistles, detected a cyber-attack on Sunday affecting some IT systems.
• H&M is investigating a separate hack claim by the ShinyHunters group, which has been linked to attacks on the FBI, Rockstar Games and Ticketmaster.
• The incidents follow a hack of Asos customers a week earlier and come as experts warn that major brands are increasingly targeted.

TFG London, the UK arm of retail group The Foschini Group and owner of the Phase Eight, Hobbs and Whistles brands, has reported a cyber-attack affecting some of its IT systems. The company said it identified the incident on Sunday and that it specifically impacted those three brands.

TFG said its stores are operating as normal, but some website capabilities may be unavailable. It added that it is investigating with external cyber security specialists and apologised for any disruption.

What TFG told customers

In an email seen by the news service PA, TFG reportedly told customers it did not believe their payment information had been affected. The company said it would work to identify whether any sensitive customer information was impacted and would inform those affected directly.

The email also said customers did not need to change their account login information at that time. TFG said it would provide further updates as appropriate.

a clear sign that major brands are firmly in the crosshairs of cyber attackers

— Beverley Griffiths, senior lecturer in security and resilience at Bucks New University

H&M and wider concerns

Separately, H&M said it is investigating a claim that it was attacked by the hacking group ShinyHunters, which has previously been linked to attacks on the FBI, Rockstar Games and Ticketmaster. H&M told BBC News it was aware of information circulating online and was investigating, adding that it had found no indications its data environment had been compromised.

The reports come a week after Asos customers were told the retailer had been hacked by another group, through a push notification on their phones. Security experts told the BBC that attacks on retailers were increasing, with one describing them as starting to look like buses that arrive several at once.