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Think you’re safe because you only shop online? Think again.
Recent cyberattacks on high-profile brands like Cartier, The North Face, and Next Step Healthcare have exposed thousands of customers’ personal data. From luxury jewelry to outdoor gear and healthcare records, the digital footprints of everyday consumers are now floating on the dark web.
High-end retailer Cartier and outdoor giant The North Face have both admitted breaches that exposed sensitive customer info – proving no brand is safe.
In today’s edition of Dark Web Digest, we unpack the details, explain why this matters, and share practical steps to safeguard your online identity – because the next breach could involve your favorite brand.
This Week’s Highlights: Data Breach Briefs
- Cartier: Names, emails, countries of residence accessed by unauthorized users, however no financial data was compromised.
- The North Face: A credential-stuffing attack hit nearly 3,000 accounts, exposing names, addresses, DOBs, and purchase history.
- Next Step Healthcare: A June 2024 ransomware breach led to exposure of SSNs, medical records, and payment card details for over 12,000 patients in the U.S.
- Protection Tip: Users can run a free PureVPN Dark Web Exposure Scan to see if their email addresses were found in this or related breaches.
What Happened?
Between April and June 2024, several major companies across retail and healthcare were hit by data breaches—including Cartier, The North Face, and Next Step Healthcare.
- Cartier confirmed that an unauthorized party temporarily accessed their systems.
- The North Face suffered a credential stuffing attack in April 2024.
- Next Step Healthcare reported a ransomware attack by the Qilin gang, impacting over 12,000 individuals.
These breaches were disclosed between May and July 2024.
What Data Was Leaked?
Across the three attacks, the following data was compromised:
- Cartier: Customer names, email addresses, country of residence, and date of birth.
- The North Face: Names, emails, shipping addresses, DOBs, phone numbers, and order history.
- Next Step Healthcare: Over 12,000 records with Social Security numbers, medical records, financial account details, credit/debit card info, driver’s licenses.
Who Was Behind the Attack?
- The North Face incident appears to stem from credential stuffing, a method where hackers reuse stolen login credentials.
- Next Step Healthcare data’s breach was claimed by Qilin, a known ransomware group active since 2022.
- Cartier has not publicly disclosed the source, but unauthorized system access suggests a targeted intrusion.
Responses by These Brands
- Cartier: The breach was swiftly contained by the company. They informed authorities, engaged cybersecurity experts, and made sure no financial or password data was compromised.
- The North Face: The company reset account passwords. Customers were urged to use unique passwords and informed voluntarily, even where not legally required.
Why This Is a Wake-Up Call
These aren’t isolated events, they’re part of a growing pattern of cyberattacks exploiting:
- Personalized Phishing: Names and email pairs allow craftier social engineering attacks.
- Credential Reuse Risks: Once hackers test password combos, they can access multiple profiles – your other accounts may be vulnerable.
- Reputation at Stake: Luxury and outdoor brands store lifestyle data—ideal for impersonation and targeted attacks.
- Repeat Incidents in Retail: Cartier and The North Face join a growing list that includes M&S, Dior, Adidas – showing the systemic risk.
Even luxury brands and healthcare providers with strong reputations are proving vulnerable. It’s a stark reminder that your digital identity is only as safe as the systems storing it.
What Can You Do To Stay Safe?
Whether you’re a business professional, employee, or customer, these breaches reinforce the need for proactive cybersecurity hygiene:
✅ Check If Your Email Is Exposed
Take safe action now: Use PureVPN’s free Dark Web Exposure Scan (also linked above) to check your email against known breaches. In ~30 seconds you’ll learn:
- Are you exposed?
- How severe is the compromise?
- How recent was the leak?
- How many breaches include your account?
Strengthen Your Account Security
- Use a password manager to avoid reusing login credentials.
- Turn on 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) for all your accounts.
- Regularly audit your logins and devices.
- Use a premium VPN like PureVPN encrypts traffic and masks IP to limit potential data leaks.
- Install antivirus or endpoint protection software.
Watch for Phishing Attempts
- Don’t click on suspicious links.
- Double-check sender addresses before replying.
- Never share sensitive info via email or text.
- Consider identity theft monitoring services for peace of mind.
For Healthcare Victims
- Monitor insurance and health account logins.
- Consider a credit freeze if financial info was leaked.
- Contact healthcare providers to confirm data protection steps.
What’s Next
Cyberattacks on retailers and service providers are becoming increasingly common and shockingly underreported. With each new breach, millions more are added to dark web databases, waiting to be exploited.
Don’t wait for an alert. Take control of your digital safety now.
Subscribe to Dark Web Digest on LinkedIn to get updates on major breaches, learn cybersecurity trends and expert insights while receiving action-packed security tips.
After all, staying informed is the first step in staying protected.
Note: The information provided in this report is based on publicly available sources as of June 10, 2025. For the most current updates, please refer to official statements and cybersecurity news outlets.
