Cartier Hits By Cyberattack: How The Luxury Industry Is Protecting Itself

The luxury sector is facing a growing threat from cyberattacks. This year, several major groups have suffered data breaches, highlighting the crucial importance of cybersecurity in an ever-changing digital environment. The latest attack targeted Cartier, according to a report earlier this week.

The flagship of the Swiss group Richemont was the victim of a cyber intrusion, revealing potential flaws in its systems. The jewelry house then informed its affected customers that some of their personal data had been exposed following unauthorized access. A hacker is believed to have temporarily gained access to the brand's computer system.

Unfortunately, Cartier is not the only company to have suffered this type of attack. Last May, Dior reported a data breach affecting its customers in Asia. Sensitive information belonging to thousands of consumers was compromised, leading to a loss of trust and a risk of tarnishing the brand's reputation. The LVMH group company sought to reassure customers by stating that no banking or credit card information had been compromised.

These attacks, which are becoming less and less isolated, go far beyond the luxury sector. A month earlier, clothing retailer The North Face detected an attack described as “worrying” by cybersecurity experts. The hackers used a technique called credential stuffing, which involves automatically testing combinations of usernames and passwords obtained from other data breaches. This method is particularly dangerous because it exploits users' tendency to reuse the same passwords on multiple platforms. The North Face asked its customers to change their login details immediately.

Recently, the Victoria's Secret website was taken offline following a cyberattack, while Harrod's in the UK and Marks & Spencer were also targeted earlier this year.

According to a report by ANSSI (Agence Nationale de la Sécurité des Systèmes d'Information), cyberattacks targeting luxury companies have seen a dramatic increase. The sector, coveted for the value of its assets and the wealth of its customer data, has become a priority target for cybercriminals.

The disclosure of personal data can have major legal consequences and seriously damage a brand's reputation. A single attack can compromise decades of image and positioning strategy.

Even if access to customer bank details is very rare, the information obtained—such as addresses, phone numbers, or purchase history—can be enough to fuel identity theft attempts or large-scale phishing campaigns.

In this context, luxury brands are trying to defend themselves by allocating a significant portion of their IT budgets to data protection, training their employees on the risks of cyberattacks, and adopting rigorous security protocols, including advanced firewalls.

However, one problem remains: despite these efforts, luxury brands still take an average of one to two months to detect these attacks, giving hackers plenty of time to infiltrate the system and access confidential information.

In an increasingly digital world, cybersecurity is becoming an essential component of luxury brands' overall strategy—on par with creativity, craftsmanship, and customer service.