Dow Jones Discloses Customer Data Breach

Dow Jones & Co. disclosed that hackers had gained unauthorized entry to its systems, accessing contact information for current and former subscribers in order to send fraudulent solicitations.

The data breach potentially accessed payment card information for fewer than 3,500 individuals, said Dow Jones, a unit of News Corp and owner of The Wall Street Journal, MarketWatch and Barron's. The goal of the hack seems to have been to obtain contact information, Dow Jones said.

In a letter to customers on Friday, Dow Jones Chief Executive William Lewis said law-enforcement officials in late July informed the company that there may have been a breach. A company investigation with the help of a cybersecurity firm revealed the unauthorized access took place between August 2012 and July 2015.

Mr. Lewis said the data from the 3,500 individuals "could have been accessed, although we have discovered no direct evidence that information was stolen." The breach also was "likely part of a broader campaign involving a number of other victim companies," he said.

The disclosure comes as a host of companies, from retailers to telecom companies to dating sites, have struggled with data breaches in recent years.

"It appears that the focus was to obtain contact information such as names, addresses, email addresses and phone numbers of current and former subscribers in order to send fraudulent solicitations," Mr. Lewis said.

The company has sent letters to individuals whose financial information was potentially accessed.

The investigation is ongoing, and Dow Jones is cooperating with law enforcement, the letter said.

Write to Steven Perlberg at [e-mail]

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 09, 2015 13:25 ET (17:25 GMT)

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