In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday, VF Corporation disclosed that it had fallen victim to a cyberattack. The company, which owns popular apparel brands such as Vans, North Face, Timberland, and Dickies, cautioned that the disruption could potentially affect holiday shopping.
The company first observed “unauthorized activities” on its IT systems on December 13, as stated in a communication to Engadget. Despite efforts to mitigate the damage, VF discovered that the hackers had encrypted certain IT systems and stolen personal information. While VF is working to find solutions that allow customers to continue purchasing from its brands, the $7 billion company admitted that the attack has impacted its ability to fulfill orders.
“At this time, VF-operated retail stores globally are open, and currently consumers can purchase available merchandise, but VF is experiencing certain operational disruptions,” a company spokesperson informed Engadget on Monday. “At this time, consumers are also able to place orders on most of the brand e-commerce sites globally. However, the Company’s ability to fulfill orders is currently impacted.” VF did not specify the perpetrators of the attack or offer further details on potential delays for customers.
The cyberattack has occurred shortly after VF acknowledged encountering financial challenges during its quarterly earnings meeting. It remains uncertain whether customer data has been compromised.
