In the contemporary landscape where fashion and technology merge, even the most renowned brands face risks associated with the digital age. This month, the luxury fashion titan Dior reported a cyberattack that may have compromised sensitive customer information. 

A message it sent to customers read: “We are writing to inform you that, on May 7, 2025, we became aware that an unauthorized external party accessed some of the customer data we hold. The investigation we launched indicates that the cause of this incident is unauthorized access to one of our databases.” According to a statement provided to BleepingComputer, Dior clarified that account passwords and payment card information were not compromised, as they were stored in a separate, unaffected database.

Despite the challenges, this incident is a powerful reminder that no brand, regardless of its status, is immune to vulnerabilities. 

How to Protect Yourself as a Consumer of a Brand That Has Been Breached

If you’re a Dior customer—or a consumer of any brand that’s experienced a breach—here are a few steps you can take to protect your personal information:

• Update Your Passwords: Change your account password on the product website immediately. Use a strong, unique password, and consider a password manager to keep track of your credentials securely.
• Monitor your financial accounts: Review your bank and credit card statements regularly for unauthorized activity. Report suspicious charges to your financial institution immediately.
• Consider a Credit Freeze or Fraud Alert: If you’re particularly concerned, placing a fraud alert or credit freeze with major credit bureaus can help prevent identity theft. If you are a victim, in some cases, the businesses will offer free fraud monitoring, usually for up to two years. 
• Stay alert for phishing: While the brand’s site may assure that financial information is secure, if the data is breached, it could leave consumers more exposed to scams. Be cautious of suspicious consumer messages, as malicious actors might target you through phishing emails. 

This is a wonderful opportunity for us, as educators and professionals, to reflect on how we can model strong digital practices as institutions and individuals. 

Knowledge truly is our best defense! 

If you haven’t had the chance yet, I encourage you to take the FIT’s Cybersafe mandatory cybersecurity training. It only takes about 30 minutes, and you can easily pause and resume whenever you like. This training is designed to help you recognize and defend against the types of threats that even global brands like Dior are currently facing.

Learn more about cybersecurity training or start your cybersecurity training now.