Auto Dealership Software Service CDK Global Shuts Down After Cyberattack

By Jose Resurreccion

Jun 20, 2024 12:27 AM EDT

Auto Dealership Software Service CDK Global Shuts Down After Cyberattack
Ford Mustang Mach E electric vehicles are offered for sale at a dealership on June 05, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.
(Photo : Scott Olson/Getty Images)

This week, car dealership software service CDK Global was hacked, causing massive outages to thousands of dealerships across the United States. 

CBS News reported that the company, which provides dealerships across the country with a software management system for its sales and other services, was forced to temporarily shut most of its systems down, effectively preventing about 15,000 dealerships from making sales.

A CDK spokesperson said Wednesday (June 19) that the company was "actively investigating a cyber incident" involving its platform. 

The company later said that some of its systems were back up and running after conducting tests and consulting with third-party experts.

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CDK Hacking

On its website, CDK said it was providing a "three-tiered cybersecurity strategy" to prevent, protect, and respond to cyberattacks to defend dealerships.

Some of CDK's most prominent customers are General Motors, Group 1 Automotive, and Holman. 

Bleeping Computer reported that the cyberattack began Tuesday evening (June 18), taking about 15,000 dealerships it was serving offline. 

It is understood that the person or group behind the cyberattack has not yet been identified. 

Because of the outage, some dealerships relied on spreadsheets and sticky notes to sell customers small parts and make repairs to be productive for the day, while the hacking paralyzed them from making larger transactions. 

READ MORE: UK's Defense Ministry 'Hacked by China'

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