Bookstore chain Cărturești has announced an IT security incident that disrupted part of its operations, especially online orders. HotNews reports that the website and mobile app are temporarily unavailable after a cyber attack flagged on 22 October.

In its statement, Cărturești says it notified the competent authorities and is working with external cybersecurity specialists on investigation and remediation. So far, representatives say, there are no indications that user data were accessed or extracted; the probe is still under way.

The company says payment-card data cannot be affected because they are not stored in its IT system. Radio România Actualități confirms the same frame: physical bookstores remain open, and card and cash payments work.

Temporarily suspended are the loyalty programme, invoice issuance and voucher use; points cannot be earned or redeemed. Gift vouchers remain valid and, according to Cărturești, are automatically extended until the end of December.

Customers are advised to be wary of messages that appear to come from the company and to change passwords on other platforms if they reuse the Cărturești account password. The chain, with about 800 employees and 25 years on the Romanian book market, includes the well-known Cărturești Carusel store on Lipscani.

No clear timetable has yet been announced for restoring all online services. The sources consulted relay the company statement and the current status; they do not confirm a proven personal-data breach.

Image: Cărturești Carusel, Bucharest (Wikimedia Commons).

Sources consulted: Una dintre cele mai cunoscute rețele de librării din România, victima unui atac cibernetic - HotNews; Lanțul de librării Cărturești, țintă a hackerilor - Radio România.