New York, USA – Nike, the global sportswear giant, announced it is conducting a comprehensive investigation into a major cybersecurity incident. This announcement followed a claim by a ransomware group calling itself “WorldLeaks” that it had stolen approximately 1.4 terabytes of the company’s sensitive data. This breach is considered one of the most serious cyber incidents Nike has faced in recent years due to the nature of the leaked data and its potential impact on the company’s international operations and supply chains.
Leaked data details
According to reports from the cybersecurity website Cyber News Centre, the group claims to have stolen over 188,000 files. These files include preliminary design plans for Jordan Brand products slated for release in 2027, as well as documents related to supply chains and manufacturing, internal employee training materials, presentations, and business strategies spanning from 2020 to 2026. The reports also indicate that the attacking group listed Nike on its leaks website and threatened to release the entire data if its demands were not met.
WorldLeaks and the Reshaping of the Digital Extortion Landscape
According to cybersecurity experts, WorldLeaks is an extension or rebranding of the notorious Hunters International gang. This group belongs to a new generation of cybercrime gangs that rely on data theft and outright extortion, rather than simply encrypting systems and demanding ransom. This shift is considered more dangerous because it focuses on damaging the reputation and competitive advantage of major companies, rather than just temporarily disabling their systems.
Potential repercussions for Nike’s global operations
This breach poses a direct threat to Nike’s international operations, particularly given its reliance on a complex network of factories, suppliers, and digital stores worldwide. Analysts warn that the leak of production plans and factory details could lead to manufacturing and distribution disruptions, delays in new product launches, the exploitation of intellectual property by competitors, and the erosion of the company’s competitive advantage in global markets. Nike has confirmed that it is working with specialized cybersecurity firms to determine whether customer data or personal information has been compromised.
Supply chains… the weakest link
The incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of global supply chains to cyberattacks. Partner companies and suppliers have become prime targets for hackers seeking to access the data of major corporations, particularly in the United States and Europe. Experts believe the attack underscores the urgent need for stricter digital security standards for external partners. This is crucial given the rise in organized attacks targeting trade secrets and technology.
Intellectual property under threat
Companies affected by this type of attack fear that the leakage of engineering plans and raw material data could lead to a loss of technological edge. This is because such information could be exploited to counterfeit products or cut costs illegally. Consequently, this threatens the stability of both the digital and industrial markets.
Cybercrime is evolving in the age of artificial intelligence.
Experts indicate that ransomware gangs are now using advanced artificial intelligence tools to analyze stolen data and identify the most sensitive files, increasing the pressure on companies to pay exorbitant sums to prevent their release. This development underscores the need to adopt proactive cybersecurity systems that rely on real-time monitoring and rapid response, rather than traditional solutions.
