ASOS shares fall after app users get hack and data-leak alert
News outlets differ on whether the alert reflects a verified breach or an unconfirmed, possibly spoofed notification.
What happened
Asos app users received a notification claiming the online retailer had been hacked, with some versions threatening to leak data and linking to Telegram.12456
Asos is reported to be investigating the notifications, which referenced a Snowflake instance, while its website and app remained operational.14
Asos's share price fell, with the Guardian reporting a nearly 12% drop on the London Stock Exchange.34
What's agreed
Reported consistently by outlets in more than one region.
Where accounts differ
Each account is attributed to who makes it. We do not judge between them.
Number of customers affected
Whether a breach actually occurred
The Register
Notification claims a Snowflake instance was compromised, but customer information theft remains unverified1
The Guardian
Notification claimed hackers had fully compromised Asos data, though the company's website and app stayed online4
BBC News Business
Describes the incident as an apparent breach based on a strange message received by users6
How it's framed
What each perspective puts first, based on headlines and summaries.
| Perspective | How it reads | What it puts first |
|---|---|---|
| UK technology and business pressEurope | Focuses on technical details and market impact, noting the claim is unverified while reporting the share price fall.14 | Snowflake instance, share price drop, investigation underway |
| UK and Irish public broadcastersEurope | Report the consumer-facing alert and its alarming content with relatively neutral framing on confirmation status.56 | phone alert, apparent breach, customer notification |
| Asia-Pacific outletsSoutheast Asia | CNA, Singapore's state-controlled broadcaster, headlines the story around the share price drop following hack reports.3 | share price drop, hack reports |
| Australian public broadcasterOceania | Highlights the extortion-style language of the message itself, quoting the threatening wording directly.2 | extortion threat, alarming message |
What the coverage leaves out
- None of the outlets reviewed reported confirmation from Asos on whether customer data was actually accessed or stolen.
- None of the outlets reviewed detailed how the notifications were sent or identified who was responsible.
- None of the outlets reviewed gave a precise, agreed-upon number of affected customers.
Why it matters
The notifications referenced a Snowflake instance and claimed customer data had been compromised, but theft of customer information had not been independently verified in the coverage reviewed.1
Asos is investigating the notifications, and the company's website and app remained online afterwards, according to reporting from The Register and The Guardian.14
Sources (6)
Every outlet we drew on, grouped by where it is based. Read the originals for the full reporting.
Europe
- 1The RegisterGBPrivate
Asos app delivers a data leak threat instead of fast fashion
- 4The GuardianGBPrivate
- 5RTÉ NewsIEPublic broadcaster
- 6BBC News BusinessGBPublic broadcaster
ASOS app users receive notifications from hackers in apparent breach
Southeast Asia
- 3CNASGState-controlled
Oceania
- 2ABC News (Australia)AUPublic broadcaster