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22 April 2011, 12:02

Ashampoo warns customers of data breach

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The German software company Ashampoo, publishers of CAD, office, utility and security software for Windows has been the victim of an attack on its servers and, as a consequence, has issued a warning to its customers. The warning explains that the attackers gained access to one of the company's servers, and were able to steal an unspecified number of customer names and associated email addresses. The company insists, however, that no credit card or banking information was compromised.

The company claims that its response was swift, and that it immediately closed the vulnerability that enabled the attackers to gain access. Ashampoo informed the local police, but notes that the attackers covered their tracks efficiently and what traces remain lead outside of Germany.

The warning states that the risk to users whose names and email addresses have been accessed lies in emails that might be sent to them purporting to come from other companies, perhaps with bogus order confirmations or similar deceptive documents. It is equally likely that the attackers might well send emails that appear to be from Ashampoo itself, given that the names stolen are known to be of Ashampoo customers. Users need therefore to be very careful; when handling email, they should not to click on any links in received emails, avoid opening any attachments and not respond to requests to enter personal information.

(ehe)

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