Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has confirmed that some data may have been taken in a cyber-attack that has disrupted production and forced workers to be sent home. The company, owned by India’s Tata Motors, had earlier stated it did not believe customer information was at risk.
Now, 11 days after the incident, JLR has admitted that data has been affected but has not disclosed whether it involves customers, suppliers or the company itself. The attack has forced production lines at JLR’s factories in Solihull, Halewood and Wolverhampton to stop, with global output of about 1,000 vehicles a day coming to a standstill. Plants in the UK are not expected to restart before Thursday.
A hacker group calling itself Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters has claimed responsibility for the breach. The group has previously targeted several UK retailers. JLR has reported the incident to the country’s data regulator, according to officials.
In a statement, JLR said: “As a result of our ongoing investigation, we now believe that some data has been affected and we are informing the relevant regulators. Our forensic investigation continues at pace and we will contact anyone as appropriate if we find that their data has been impacted.”
Experts say that while protecting customer information is crucial, the greater concern for a company like JLR is the operational disruption. Ciaran Martin, professor at the University of Oxford and former head of the National Cyber Security Centre, explained: “There’s a real difference between somebody breaking into your house when you’re not there or when you’re asleep and maybe photocopying your bank records and your medical records and using that to defraud you. There’s a real difference between that and being punched in the face and having your legs broken.”
He added that while the law prioritises data protection, the ability of firms to keep operating is equally important.
The company has shut down its IT networks and is “working around the clock” to restore them, though the process is said to be highly complex. The National Cyber Security Centre is assisting JLR in handling the situation.
The government is also monitoring developments closely. Business minister Chris Bryant told parliament that officials are in daily contact with JLR to assess the challenges facing the company and its suppliers. Local MPs have been invited to a question-and-answer session with JLR on Friday.
The incident highlights the growing risks of cyber-attacks on major industries. Earlier this year, a UK retailer faced months of disruption and a loss of £300 million following a similar attack.
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