Client Data was Stolen in Christie's Hack
May 29, 24
(IDEX Online) - Christie's has acknowledged that some client data was stolen during a cybersecurity attack that paralyzed its website and apps for 10 days earlier this month.
The hackers gained unauthorized access to certain parts of Christie's network, the auction house's CEO Guillaume Cerutti said in a LinkedIn post yesterday (28 May), allowing them to steal "a limited amount of personal data."
But he said there was no evidence that any financial or transactional data related to clients or to Christie's had been being taken or copied. He said they'd be contacting affected client within 48 hours.
The website went down on 9 May due to what Christie's described at the time as a "technology security issue".
Visitors were greeted with a message that read: "We apologise that our website is currently offline. We are working to resolve this as soon as possible and regret any inconvenience."
The auction house was forced to extend five online-only sales, postpone its Rare Watches Live Auction and accept only live bids at its Only Watch charity auction.
The cyberattack appeared to be timed to hit Christie's New York spring art auctions, with lots worth $850m due to go under the hammer in a single week.
Pic courtesy Christie's shows its postponed Rare Watches Auction in Geneva.