In a recent disclosure, Aristocrat Leisure, a prominent name in the gaming industry, admitted to falling victim to a severe cyber-attack.
Cyber Invasion at Aristocrat Leisure
The attack occurred on June 1, and the hackers managed to infiltrate an Aristocrat server. The stolen data, including confidential employee information and other sensitive data, was subsequently published online.
The malefactors exploited a newly discovered vulnerability in MOVEit, a third-party file-sharing software utilized by Aristocrat. This security breach has raised serious concerns about the company’s security protocols, their assurances for safe casinos and their effectiveness in thwarting such intrusions.
Aristocrat’s Countermeasures and Damage Control
In response to the attack, Aristocrat implemented several measures to contain the situation and rectify the vulnerability in the MOVEit software. These steps included alerting relevant law enforcement agencies and necessary gaming and other regulatory authorities.
To ascertain the extent of the data violation, Aristocrat has enlisted the help of cybersecurity experts. Additionally, all employees have been provided with complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft protection services. As part of their risk management strategy, Aristocrat carried out a thorough risk assessment to estimate the potential repercussions on its business. The company anticipates only a minimal business impact, backed by an adequate risk management and mitigation plan.
Aristocrat asserted that it upholds high integrity standards and treats the privacy and security of all personal data with utmost seriousness. “We will continue to manage this incident proactively and comprehensively, in the best interests of our people, business and other stakeholders,” said the company in a statement.
A Rising Trend in the Gaming Industry
Aristocrat is not an isolated case in the gaming industry. In November of the previous year, DraftKings’ customer accounts were targeted, affecting funds worth €300,000. The attack also rendered customers’ two-factor authentication ineffective as hackers altered their phone numbers.
Earlier this year, industry experts, including Lindsay Slader of GeoComply, Zak Cutler of Paysafe, and Leon Allen of Continent 8, voiced their concerns about the increasing threat of such attacks to the industry. They emphasized the need for the industry to stay ahead of these threats to financial security.