Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) just suffered a stain on its otherwise remarkable performance so far this year. Earlier today, the firm notified customers that it suffered a compromising event. While the Dell data breach appears to be limited to only customers’ names and physical addresses, the matter still highlights the destructive potential of the rising technology ecosystem.
In an email reviewed by TechCrunch, Dell stated that it was investigating “an incident involving a Dell portal, which contains a database with limited types of customer information related to purchases from Dell.” Along with customer names and addresses, the leaked private data included hardware and order information, such as service tags and related warranty details.
Dell did not specifically say whether the breach was caused by bad actors or an error. Most significantly for customers, though, the Dell data breach did not include emails, phone numbers or financial information. Indeed, the firm stressed that the incident did not involve “any highly sensitive customer information,” per TechCrunch.
Dell Data Breach Puts Spotlight on Tech’s Dark Alleyways
While the actual impact of the Dell data breach may be limited, the scale of the problem raises concerns. With 49 million customers reportedly affected, the event may dent the otherwise strong reputation of this computer manufacturer.
Since the start of the year, DELL stock has gained nearly 76%. Likewise, over the past 12 months, shares are up by more than 186%. However, the firm’s ascent has slowed since early April, with today’s price action dipping slightly below parity at one point.
On a more important note, the acceleration of advanced technologies — particularly artificial intelligence (AI) — poses both risks and rewards. On the positive side, Bain & Company states that generative AI should help “strengthen cybersecurity, particularly in threat identification.” However, at the same time, bad actors are also “exploring generative AI’s potential to aid cyberattacks through innovations such as self-evolving malware.”
Of course, Dell did not clarify whether the incident indeed involved a direct attack. However, that might be of little concern to affected customers of the Dell data breach. According to a study cited by Forbes, “86% of Americans are more concerned about their privacy and data security than the state of the U.S. economy.”
Why It Matters
For now, sentiment toward DELL stock appears to be little-affected by the data breach. Presently, analysts rate shares as a consensus strong buy. Still, it’s notable that Barclays issued a “sell” rating on DELL back in March with a soft price target of $94. Overall, the average price target for the stock comes in at $122.25, implying about 7% downside risk.
On the date of publication, Josh Enomoto did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.
