Recent visitors to one of Ireland's best-known tourist attractions are being advised that their financial and personal information may have been compromised following a cyber attack. According to several reports, Fota Wildlife Park in Cork emailed customers on Wednesday having been alerted to a potential data breach, which occurred in recent months.

The park has made the Data Protection Commission and Gardaí aware of the incident

In an email sent to customers who made purchases on the Fota Wildlife Park website between May 12 and August 27, the organization stated that “there is a risk to your financial information” and “strongly recommended” that customers cancel their credit or debit cards used to make payments on the Fota Wildlife Park website. Customers are also being advised to review transactions on their accounts as far back as the beginning of May.

The park authorities are also telling customers that they must now start keeping a close eye for “suspicious or unusual activity” on their bank accounts.

The email advised a review of bank account activity and credit card statements going back as far as May 12 this year. It said customers should look for “potential suspicious activity which may indicate that an account has been compromised”.

“We understand that this may be of significant concern to you,” Fota said in the alert. “We would like to assure you that we take our responsibility to protect your personal and financial information seriously and have given this matter the utmost priority.”

While the Fota Island Wildlife Park website remains offline, the park will be open to members of the public as normal this Thursday and day-to-day operations have not been affected.

“Our website is currently offline and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Fota Wildlife Park is open to visitors as normal from 9.30am, with last entry at 4.30pm. Tickets can be purchased on entry to the Park,” reads a temporary message posted on the homepage.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Fota Wildlife Park confirmed that “illegal cyber activity” was recently identified which impacted its website. “The organisation’s incident response plan was immediately activated, an internal investigation was instigated and appropriate measures were taken to secure the organisation’s website. The incident has been notified to the relevant authorities and Fota Wildlife Park is cooperating with those authorities. Fota Wildlife Park is in the process of contacting all potentially impacted customers,” they said adding: “In the meantime, Fota Wildlife Park’s day-to-day operations continue as normal.”

It's understood the Data Protection Commissioner has been informed of the incident and that a number of investigations are now underway. It's unclear at this stage how many customers, if any, have been impacted as a result of the cyber breach.

The Extent of the Breach

The full extent of the data breach is still under investigation. However, Fota Wildlife Park has confirmed that usernames, passwords, and email addresses may have been accessed. The park is urging customers who use the same password for other accounts to change their passwords as a precaution.

Fota Wildlife Park's Response

Fota Wildlife Park has taken immediate action to contain the damage. The park's website has been taken offline and external forensic cybersecurity experts have been hired to investigate the incident. The park is also cooperating with the Data Protection Commission and An Garda Síochána. The park has stated that it will “continue to work with the relevant authorities to ensure that this type of incident does not occur again”.

A Growing Trend

The cyberattack on Fota Wildlife Park is the latest in a series of cyberattacks targeting Irish organizations. In recent months, several high-profile organizations have been targeted, including Bus Éireann, the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, and Voter.ie. This trend highlights the growing vulnerability of Irish organizations to cyberattacks. These attacks are often motivated by financial gain, but they can also be used to disrupt critical infrastructure or spread misinformation. In the case of Fota Wildlife Park, the cyberattack has caused significant inconvenience and anxiety for customers. The park is taking steps to mitigate the damage, but it is clear that cyberattacks are a growing threat that all organizations need to take seriously.

Protecting Yourself

There are a number of steps you can take to protect yourself from cyberattacks. These include:

• Use strong passwords and don't reuse them across multiple accounts.
• Be wary of phishing emails and other scams.
• Keep your software up to date.
• Use a reputable antivirus program.
• Consider using a password manager.

By taking these steps, you can help reduce your risk of falling victim to a cyberattack.

The Future of Cybersecurity

The rise of cyberattacks is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach to address. Organizations need to invest in strong cybersecurity measures, while individuals need to be aware of the risks and take steps to protect themselves. The government also has a role to play in promoting cybersecurity awareness and supporting research and development in this area.

The cyberattack on Fota Wildlife Park is a reminder of the importance of cybersecurity in today's digital world. It is a threat that all organizations and individuals need to take seriously. As we move into the future, it is essential that we continue to invest in cybersecurity to protect ourselves from these increasingly sophisticated threats.