Fota Wildlife Park in County Cork [2] [4], Ireland [2] [3], recently experienced a cyber-attack on its website’s online payment system [3], impacting up to 20,000 individuals [4].
Description
Management contacted affected customers and advised them to cancel their payment cards after an unauthorized intruder gained access to customer bank information. Customers who made online transactions between 12 May and 27 August 2024 are urged to monitor their bank and card statements for any suspicious activity. The park has taken its website offline and forensic cyber security experts are investigating the incident. Ryan McConechy [2], CTO at Barrier Networks [2], stressed the importance of protecting customer data. Fota Wildlife Park’s operations are unaffected, with tickets still available for purchase on entry [1]. A dedicated phoneline and helpline are available for concerned customers while the website remains offline. The park is cooperating with authorities to address the breach.
Conclusion
The cyber-attack on Fota Wildlife Park’s website has impacted a significant number of individuals, highlighting the importance of data protection measures. Customers are advised to monitor their financial statements for any unauthorized activity. The park’s operations continue as normal [1], with support services in place for affected customers. Cooperation with authorities is ongoing to address the breach and prevent future incidents.
References
[1] https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2024/0830/1467516-fota-cyberattack/
[2] https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/irish-wildlife-park-breach/
[3] https://businessplus.ie/news/fota-wildlife-park-hackers/
[4] https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/crime/visitors-to-fota-wildlife-park-told-to-cancel-bank-cards-amid-fears-that-hackers-stole-personal-details-of-20000-people/a1330002778.html
