Some Car Dealerships Revert To Pen And Paper After Cyberattacks On Software Provider

Car dealerships in North America are grappling with major disruptions after cyberattacks on CDK Global, a key software provider for thousands of auto dealers in the U.S. and Canada. The attacks, which began last Wednesday, have caused ongoing outages affecting dealership operations.
Prospective car buyers are experiencing delays, with some dealerships resorting to manual processes. CDK Global expects the restoration process to take several days. Group 1 Automotive Inc. and other major auto companies, including Stellantis, Ford, and BMW, have reported impacts on their dealers but continue to operate using alternative methods.
CDK, which serves over 15,000 retail locations, shut down its systems as a precaution and is working with third-party experts and law enforcement to investigate the incident. The attacks bear the hallmarks of ransomware, but CDK has not confirmed if a ransom was demanded.
In response, dealerships have implemented manual processes to continue sales and services. Cybersecurity experts advise consumers connected to CDK or its dealerships to monitor their credit and be cautious of phishing attempts, as customer data may have been compromised. The National Automobile Dealers Association is seeking updates from CDK to assess the impact and respond appropriately.