U.S. tech giant Alphabet (GOOGL) has revealed that it has become the latest victim of a data breach using Salesforce (CRM) databases.
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Google revealed in a blog post that some customers’ information has been stolen via one of its Salesforce database systems.
Google Hunt
Google’s Threat Intelligence Group said the database is used for storing contact information and related notes for small and medium businesses. It has been breached by a hacking group known as ShinyHunters.
“The data retrieved by the threat actor was confined to basic and largely publicly available business information, such as business names and contact details,” the company said.
Google did not reveal how many customers are affected or whether it has received a ransom demand.
Google did say, however, that the ShinyHunters group is likely preparing a data leak site, which some ransomware gangs use to publish stolen data to extort victims into paying a ransom.
Long Line of Hits
A number of companies using Salesforce have also witnessed data breaches in recent weeks. This includes French luxury brand Chanel, fellow premium group Louis Vuitton (LVMUY), Dior, Tiffany & Co, Adidas (ADDYY), Qantas (QUBSF) and Allianz Life.
Hackers from the ShinyHunters group have been stealing data from Salesforce customers since early 2025. They use a trick called “social engineering,” in which they call employees pretending to be IT support and convince them to install a fake app. This allows hackers to bypass normal security and access sensitive customer data.
Salesforce confirmed that its platform has not been compromised.
Instead, the breaches stem from credential theft and poor access controls on the customer side. The company is urging users to adopt best practices, including multi-factor authentication (MFA), limited access, and tighter oversight of connected applications.
However, the incidents are still likely to have caused a dent in Salesforce’s reputation with clients and the wider public. As one can see below, tech risks are key for both the business and investors.
Is CRM a Good Stock to Buy Now?
On TipRanks, CRM has a Moderate Buy consensus based on 33 Buy, 9 Hold and 2 Sell ratings. Its highest price target is $440. CRM stock’s consensus price target is $351.59, implying a 41.88% upside.
