German Software Company Breached, Customer Data Stolen

German computer software company Ashampoo, known for its Windows utilities, has been targeted by attackers that managed to gain access to its customers database and possibly obtained data such as names and email addresses.

According to the company, hackers gained access to one of its servers. Thankfully, Ashampoo discovered the break-in early on and closed the security gap as soon as it was identified. Subsidiary companies of the Ashampoo group were not affected by this incident.

“The stolen pieces of information are data of addresses such as name and e-mail address. Billing information (e.g. credit card information or banking information) is definitely not affected, because our shop service contractors are concerned with this data and it is not stored on our system,” the company noted in a statement on its website.

The message was also emailed to the company's customers and includes a warning about possible targeted attacks that can be mounted by using the stolen information.

“Generally it is always important that you stay suspicious of unknown senders and that you do not respond to requests that tell you to open attachments,” the company continued.

Ashampoo warned customers that the hackers may try to say them bogus online order confirmations laced with malicious attachments. “If you for example receive a confirmation of an order from PurelyGadgets or another company without having made an appropriate purchase there, please do not open the attachment and delete the e-mail immediately.”

This is certainly not the first incident of a good ol’ hack involving customer data being stolen.

Connecticut-based insurance group The Hartford Insurance Company was recently a victim of some pretty nasty malware, particularly of the password stealing variety. According to recent reports, hackers installed password stealing programs into the company’s servers, one notably known as Trojan W32-Qakbot.

The company said the malware has affected a small number of employees and few customers as well, but has sent a warning letter to people who it thinks could be affected. The letter was sent to about 300 employees, contractors and a few customers.

“It was a very small incident,” said Debora Raymond, a company spokeswoman.