We have been informed by Beacon of a cyber security incident involving unauthorised access to copies of customer database backups.
Beacon provides CRM services to charities and organisations, so this incident is not limited to David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation and has affected multiple Beacon customers.
Beacon has engaged independent cyber security specialists, is working with the relevant authorities, and continues to investigate exactly what happened. At this stage, there is no evidence that any personal information has been misused because of this incident. Beacon has confirmed that its systems remain operational and secure for continued use.
As soon as we were notified, DSWF acted immediately in line with Beacon’s guidance and our own robust data protection procedures to reset passwords, renew all external integrations and work with our IT and cyber security partners.
Beacon has also confirmed that it has identified and addressed the vulnerability that led to the incident. It has reset relevant system credentials, strengthened the security of its cloud environment, and implemented enhanced monitoring and threat detection across its systems. According to Beacon and its independent cyber security specialists, there is currently no evidence of any ongoing unauthorised access following these actions.
While the investigation is ongoing, the information potentially involved may include contact details and records of your relationship with our charity, such as communication preferences, donation history or event participation.
Importantly, we do not store payment card details, bank account information, passport details, National Insurance numbers or other highly sensitive information within our systems. There is therefore no evidence that any financial information relating to our supporters has been compromised.
At present, there is no evidence that any personal data has been misused. However, as a precaution, we recommend remaining vigilant for any unexpected emails, phone calls or messages claiming to be from organisations you know and trust.
Please never share passwords, financial information or other sensitive personal information in response to unsolicited requests.
Protecting the information entrusted to us is something we take extremely seriously. We know that our supporters place their trust in us not only to protect wildlife, but also to safeguard their personal information. We deeply regret any concern this situation may cause and want to assure you that we are doing everything possible to manage it carefully, responsibly and transparently.
We will continue to monitor developments and will update this page should we receive any significant new information from Beacon’s ongoing investigation.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us:
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01483 272323
