UAE's Landmark Group probes data breach in Shukran loyalty programme

The UAE's Landmark Group is investigating a cyber incident involving unauthorized access to its Shukran loyalty programme, it announced on Wednesday. The affected customer information includes names, contact details, and dates of birth. However, debit and credit card details were not compromised, as they are not stored on Landmark's system.

Shukran points, which can be redeemed for perks and discounts, are also unaffected. Landmark did not disclose the severity of the breach, but assured that any customers receiving text messages about the incident could be impacted. "We recently identified an incident involving unauthorized access to one of our systems. We acted immediately to contain it," Landmark stated.

"We have also informed the relevant statutory and law enforcement authorities and are actively investigating the matter." Established as one of the largest retail corporations in the UAE, the conglomerate operates over 20 brands across multiple Gulf countries, Egypt, Jordan, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Cyber breaches are on the rise as malicious actors seek financial gains or user data, compelling companies to bolster their network defenses.

The financial impact of cyber attacks can be significant, with the average cost for organizations in the Middle East reaching $8 million, according to IBM's latest Cost of a Data Breach report. The report also highlights that lost business remains the most substantial cost category, averaging $3.57 million per breach. In the UAE, advanced cyber defense systems are in place to safeguard against potential attacks and protect the economy and society.

In September, the country faced 640,000 attacks in a single week, as reported by national cyber security chief Mohamed Al Kuwaiti.