- Published
If a strange-looking message from Asos popped up on your phone today, you may be worrying what it could mean and whether you need to do anything.
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you → publish → anything
The online retailer has emailed customers apologising for the "unauthorised push notification" containing an external link, adding that they should disregard the message and not click on it.
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they → email → it
Here's what has happened, and what those who may have been affected are being advised to do.
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who → happen → what
What message did people receive?
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people → receive → message
On Tuesday morning, Asos users across the UK were sent pop-up messages from its app that appear to have been sent by hackers trying to extort the company.
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that → send → company
"Dear ASOS DPO and IT, we have fully compromised the Snowflake instance.
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we → compromise → instance
Engage with us, or we will leak it
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we → engage → it
," the message read.
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message → read → ?
Later that day, Asos said it took immediate action to restrict the apparent hackers' access, was investigating and working with advisers and relevant authorities on "next steps".
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it → say → steps
Data storage company Snowflake told the BBC its investigations had "found no compromise" of its platform.
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investigations → tell → platform
What does this mean for my data?
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this → mean → data
At this stage it isn't clear what information, if any, has been accessed.
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information → access → stage
On Tuesday evening, Asos told customers it may include "basic personal information including name and contact details".
"However, we don't believe that any payment-card information or account passwords have been impacted," it added.
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it → tell → name
While those who received the pop-up message will undoubtedly be concerned, it does not mean your phone has been hacked.
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phone → receive → message
What can I do to protect myself?
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I → do → myself
For now, the advice is:
Don't click the link:
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advice → click → link
The hack notification included a link to a Telegram account - Asos and cyber security experts say not to click on it
Change passwords:
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Asos → include → passwords
It's worth updating your password, including across other sites that use the same one as your Asos account.
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that → update → account
The advice for a strong password is to mix numbers, symbols and upper and lower case characters, and avoid using the same password across multiple accounts
Turn on two-step verification for important apps like banking and email:
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advice → mix → banking
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) calls this "one of the most effective ways to protect your online accounts from cyber criminals".
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Centre → call → criminals
You can usually turn it on by going into the security settings in your account
Monitor transactions: Keep an eye on your online transactions for anything unusual
Be alert going forward
According to Charlotte Wilson, head of enterprise at global cyber-security firm Check Point, "the biggest immediate risk may be what happens next".
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what → turn → Point
She says criminals know people will be searching for information online and expects there to be "attempts to exploit that confusion".
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people → say → confusion
But she says they should be "extremely suspicious" of emails, texts or messages claiming their account has been compromised, offering a refund or asking them to click a link to reset their password.
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account → say → password
People should hang up the phone if they receive any calls from someone they think might be posing as Asos or another organisation, says Which? spokesperson Kat Cereda.
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Cereda → hang → Asos
The consumer rights expert says they should contact the organisation themselves afterwards through separate means.
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they → say → means
'An awful lot' we don't know
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we → know → lot
It's been less than 24 hours since the notification popped up on people's phones, and there are a number of unanswered questions.
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notification → pop → questions
It isn't yet clear who is behind the message, what their motivation is, how many people received the notification or how many may be impacted
Wilson, from the cyber-security firm Check Point, says there's still "an awful lot" we don't know.
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we → receive → firm
Asos said its website and app were operating "as normal, and customers can continue to shop with confidence on ASOS as normal" as of Tuesday night.
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customers → say → night
It said protecting customers "is our priority", and it will provide a further update "as soon as we have confirmed more information".
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we → say → information
People should visit Asos's official website directly for updates.
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People → visit → updates
The Aporia
