Adidas data breach: Millions of customers' data at risk

Sports brand and trainer maker Adidas has suffered a data breach that may have spilled the personal information of potentially millions of its customers.

"On June 26, Adidas became aware that an unauthorized party claims to have acquired limited data associated with certain Adidas consumers," the German company told its customers on Thursday.

The swiped data included the usernames and encrypted passwords of Adidas customers, as well as their contact information. However, Adidas does not believe that any payment details or data on customer fitness was stolen.

Currently, there is not a lot in the way of information to how the data breach occurred, the impact of the data leak, or indeed the methods the hacker or hackers may have used to get hold of the information. Adidas noted it is carrying out a "forensic review" to ascertain more information about the breach, as well as notify its customers.

"Adidas is committed to the privacy and security of its consumers' personal data. Adidas immediately began taking steps to determine the scope of the issue and to alert relevant consumers. Adidas is working with leading data security firms and law enforcement authorities to investigate the issue," the company said.

Such a data breach could expose an undisclosed number of Adidas customers to phishing attempts made by opportunistic cyber criminals with access to the company's customer's email addresses and other contact details.

However, it is thought that only customers who have made purchases through Adidas' US website have been affected by the data breach.

Adidas is not alone in being a high street retailer that has suffered a data breach, and Best Buy, Sears, and Under Armour have all been victims of cyber attacks this year.

Image credit: Adidas