
McDonald's Company Cyber Security Posture
mcdonalds.comMcDonaldโs is the worldโs leading global foodservice retailer with over 37,000 locations in over 100 countries. More than 90% of McDonaldโs restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local business men and women. McDonald's & our franchisees employ 1.9 million people worldwide. We serve the world some of its favorite foods - World Famous Fries, Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, Chicken McNuggets and Egg McMuffin. To learn more about the company, please visit www.aboutmcdonalds.com.
McDonald's Company Details
mcdonald's-corporation
355175 employees
2159242.0
722
Restaurants
mcdonalds.com
Scan still pending
MCD_3273732
In-progress

Between 900 and 1000
This score is AI-generated and less favored by cyber insurers, who prefer the TPRM score.

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McDonald's Company Scoring based on AI Models
Model Name | Date | Description | Current Score Difference | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|
AVERAGE-Industry | 03-12-2025 | This score represents the average cybersecurity rating of companies already scanned within the same industry. It provides a benchmark to compare an individual company's security posture against its industry peers. | N/A | Between 900 and 1000 |
McDonald's Company Cyber Security News & History
Entity | Type | Severity | Impact | Seen | Url ID | Details | View |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
McDonald's | Breach | 70 | 3 | 06/2021 | MCD12811322 | Link | |
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaksDescription: The burger chain McDonald was targeted by hackers in a cyber attack. The hackers infiltrated its systems and stole personal data of employees in South Korea and Taiwan. The breach even compromised business contact information for U.S. employees and franchisees and restaurant information. | |||||||
McDonald's | Breach | 80 | 4 | 04/2022 | MCD0718522 | Link | |
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack with significant impact with customers data leaksDescription: One of the service providers McDonald hired in its Costa Rica branch left its client data exposed which resulted in a data breach incident. The hackers accessed client names, marital status, address, email, document identification numbers, and phone numbers from an unprotected database. McDonaldโs has informed the local legal authorities and started the investigation. | |||||||
McDonald's | Breach | 70 | 4 | 09/2016 | MCD15030622 | Link | |
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack with significant impact with customers data leaksDescription: The burger chain McDonald's was targeted by a cyber attack in September 2016. An employee of McDonald's who worked at the drive-thru took 100 credit card numbers. McDonaldโs has informed the local legal authorities and started the investigation. | |||||||
McDonald's | Breach | 100 | 6 | 11/2017 | MCD132714822 | Link | |
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack threatening the economy of a geographical regionDescription: The burger chain McDonald's Canada suffered from a data breach incident that leaked 95,000 job seekers information. The information includes the names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, and employment backgrounds of candidates who applied online for a job at McDonaldโs Canada between March 2014 and March 2017. After learning of the attack, McDonald's pulled down the website, and the corporation affirmed that it will be shut until the investigation is over. | |||||||
McDonald's | Breach | 100 | 4 | 04/2017 | MCD192211123 | Link | |
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack with significant impact with customers data leaksDescription: McDonald's Canada has acknowledged that hackers have taken approximately 95,000 job seekers' personal information from its hiring website. The names, addresses, emails, phone numbers, employment histories, and other personal information of job hopefuls were exposed in a data breach; the corporation has opened an inquiry into this incident. Approximately 95,000 restaurant job applicants' personal information has been leaked as a result. Those who applied online for a job at a McDonald's Canada restaurant are the ones who are affected. Thankfully, McDonald's Canada does not request sensitive data like social security numbers, health information, or financial information, so the recruitment website has been shut down. | |||||||
McDonald's | Breach | 85 | 4 | 6/2025 | MCD453061725 | Link | |
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack with significant impact with customers data leaksDescription: McDonald's shares dropped by as much as 1.7% after equity analysis firm Redburn Atlantic downgraded its stock rating from buy to sell. The downgrade was due to the potential impact of GLP-1 drugs on eating habits, which could result in a loss of up to 28 million customer visits and a revenue loss of $482 million per year. The drugs, which suppress appetite and regulate blood sugar, are expected to significantly affect lower-income consumers, a key demographic for McDonald's. This change in consumer behavior, combined with inflationary pressures and pricing fatigue, poses a significant threat to the company's earnings. | |||||||
McDonald's | Vulnerability | 85 | 4 | 7/2025 | MCD344071125 | Link | |
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack with significant impact with customers data leaksDescription: A vulnerability in McHire, the AI-powered recruitment platform used by a vast majority of McDonaldโs franchisees, exposed the personal information of over 64 million job applicants. The vulnerability allowed unauthorised access to sensitive data, including names, email addresses, phone numbers, and home addresses. The issue was due to an Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) on an internal API and weak default credentials. The incident was swiftly addressed by Paradox.ai and McDonald's, but it highlighted the risks associated with rushing AI deployments without proper security measures. |
McDonald's Company Subsidiaries

McDonaldโs is the worldโs leading global foodservice retailer with over 37,000 locations in over 100 countries. More than 90% of McDonaldโs restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local business men and women. McDonald's & our franchisees employ 1.9 million people worldwide. We serve the world some of its favorite foods - World Famous Fries, Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, Chicken McNuggets and Egg McMuffin. To learn more about the company, please visit www.aboutmcdonalds.com.
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McDonald's Cyber Security News
AI overhaul at McDonaldโs needs a super-sized security approach
McDonald's is hoping a major investment in AI will be the secret sauce to flavor its finances. Customers, staff and shareholders are entitled to ask: can I getย ...
In Other News: McDonaldโs API Hacking, Netflix Fine, Malware Kills ICS Process
The malware, which terminates other types of processes as well (Microsoft Office apps and browsers), may have been developed by individualsย ...
Krispy Kremeโs 2025 target: 6,000 McDonaldโs
CHARLOTTE, NC. โ Points of access, especially at McDonald's restaurants, continued to increase for Krispy Kreme, Inc. in the fiscal yearย ...
A McDonaldโs Global Technology Data Security Leader Shares the Secret to His Teamโs Success
McDonald's global technology risk management organization participates in tabletop exercises, or simulations, to test cyber-threat responseย ...
McDonaldโs Delivery App Bug Let Customers Orders For Just $0.01
During an audit of the McDelivery website, a security researcher discovered a Broken Object Level Authorization (BOLA) vulnerability.
McDonalds delivery customers put at risk by possible data breach
A delivery system for McDonalds in India was flawed in a way that exposed sensitive customer information, and allowed people to make fraudulent orders.
Crypto scammers breach McDonaldโs Instagram account
An SQL injection exploit exposed the users and owner of CatWatchful stalkerware. System hacked warning alert on laptop computer. Cyber attack onย ...
McDonald's targeted by grimace memecoin promoters
McDonald's (MCD) recently suffered a high-profile cyber attack that compromised its Instagram account. The breach involved a hacker usingย ...
Major Microsoft and Crowdstrike disruptions ground planes, banks, McDonaldโs stores and the London Stock Exchange
Computer systems at businesses and public services around the globe were disrupted after a botched update of a widely used cybersecurity program took downย ...

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Frequently Asked Questions
Explore insights on cybersecurity incidents, risk posture, and Rankiteo's assessments.
McDonald's CyberSecurity History Information
How many cyber incidents has McDonald's faced?
Total Incidents: According to Rankiteo, McDonald's has faced 7 incidents in the past.
What types of cybersecurity incidents have occurred at McDonald's?
Incident Types: The types of cybersecurity incidents that have occurred incidents Vulnerability and Breach.
What was the total financial impact of these incidents on McDonald's?
Total Financial Loss: The total financial loss from these incidents is estimated to be $0.
How does McDonald's detect and respond to cybersecurity incidents?
Detection and Response: The company detects and responds to cybersecurity incidents through containment measures with Changed default administrative credentials, Resolved IDOR vulnerability and remediation measures with Removed default credentials, Fixed IDOR vulnerability and containment measures with shutdown of recruitment website and containment measures with Pulled down the website and law enforcement notified with Yes and law enforcement notified with Yes.
Incident Details
Can you provide details on each incident?

Incident : Data Breach
Title: Major Security Flaw in McDonaldโs AI Hiring Tool McHire Exposed 64M Job Applications
Description: An IDOR vulnerability and weak default credentials in McHire, the AI-powered recruitment platform used by McDonaldโs franchisees, led to a massive leak of personal data.
Date Detected: 2025-06-30
Date Resolved: 2025-07-01
Type: Data Breach
Attack Vector: Weak Default Credentials, Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR)
Vulnerability Exploited: Default Credentials, IDOR

Incident : Breach
Title: McDonald's Shares Drop Amid Weight-Loss Drug Threat
Description: McDonald's shares dropped as weight-loss drugs threaten to significantly impact the fast food chain's earnings. Analysts downgraded the stock due to potential loss of customer visits and revenue. The appetite-suppressing drugs pose a risk to lower-income consumer brands like McDonald's.
Type: Breach

Incident : Data Breach
Title: McDonald's Canada Data Breach
Description: McDonald's Canada has acknowledged that hackers have taken approximately 95,000 job seekers' personal information from its hiring website. The names, addresses, emails, phone numbers, employment histories, and other personal information of job hopefuls were exposed in a data breach; the corporation has opened an inquiry into this incident. Approximately 95,000 restaurant job applicants' personal information has been leaked as a result. Those who applied online for a job at a McDonald's Canada restaurant are the ones who are affected. Thankfully, McDonald's Canada does not request sensitive data like social security numbers, health information, or financial information, so the recruitment website has been shut down.
Type: Data Breach

Incident : Data Breach
Title: McDonald's Canada Data Breach
Description: The burger chain McDonald's Canada suffered from a data breach incident that leaked 95,000 job seekers information. The information includes the names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, and employment backgrounds of candidates who applied online for a job at McDonaldโs Canada between March 2014 and March 2017.
Type: Data Breach

Incident : Data Breach
Title: Credit Card Theft at McDonald's Drive-Thru
Description: An employee of McDonald's who worked at the drive-thru took 100 credit card numbers.
Date Detected: September 2016
Type: Data Breach
Attack Vector: Internal Theft
Vulnerability Exploited: Insider Threat
Threat Actor: Employee
Motivation: Theft

Incident : Data Breach
Title: Data Breach at McDonald's Costa Rica Branch
Description: A service provider hired by McDonald's Costa Rica branch left client data exposed, resulting in a data breach incident. Hackers accessed client names, marital status, address, email, document identification numbers, and phone numbers from an unprotected database.
Type: Data Breach
Attack Vector: Unprotected Database
Vulnerability Exploited: Unprotected Database

Incident : Data Breach
Title: Cyber Attack on McDonald's
Description: The burger chain McDonald's was targeted by hackers in a cyber attack. The hackers infiltrated its systems and stole personal data of employees in South Korea and Taiwan. The breach also compromised business contact information for U.S. employees and franchisees and restaurant information.
Type: Data Breach
Threat Actor: Hackers
Motivation: Data Theft
What are the most common types of attacks the company has faced?
Common Attack Types: The most common types of attacks the company has faced is Breach.
How does the company identify the attack vectors used in incidents?
Identification of Attack Vectors: The company identifies the attack vectors used in incidents through Weak Default Credentials and Unprotected Database.
Impact of the Incidents
What was the impact of each incident?

Incident : Data Breach MCD344071125
Data Compromised: Names, Email Addresses, Phone Numbers, Home Addresses, Authentication Tokens, Raw Chat Messages
Systems Affected: McHire Platform, Olivia Chatbot

Incident : Breach MCD453061725
Financial Loss: ['Revenue loss of $482 million per year', "Approximately 0.9% of the company's sales"]
Revenue Loss: ['Revenue loss of $482 million per year', "Approximately 0.9% of the company's sales"]

Incident : Data Breach MCD192211123
Data Compromised: names, addresses, emails, phone numbers, employment histories
Systems Affected: hiring website

Incident : Data Breach MCD132714822
Data Compromised: names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, employment backgrounds

Incident : Data Breach MCD15030622
Data Compromised: 100 credit card numbers
Payment Information Risk: High

Incident : Data Breach MCD0718522
Data Compromised: Client names, Marital status, Address, Email, Document identification numbers, Phone numbers
Identity Theft Risk: High

Incident : Data Breach MCD12811322
Data Compromised: Employee personal data, Business contact information, Restaurant information
What is the average financial loss per incident?
Average Financial Loss: The average financial loss per incident is $0.00.
What types of data are most commonly compromised in incidents?
Commonly Compromised Data Types: The types of data most commonly compromised in incidents are Personal Information, Contact Information, Authentication Tokens, Chat Messages, names, addresses, emails, phone numbers, employment histories, names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, employment backgrounds, Credit Card Numbers, Personal Information, Contact Information, Personal data, Business contact information and Restaurant information.
Which entities were affected by each incident?

Incident : Data Breach MCD344071125
Entity Type: Corporation
Industry: Fast Food
Location: Global
Size: Large
Customers Affected: 64 million job applicants

Incident : Breach MCD453061725
Entity Type: Fast Food Chain
Industry: Food and Beverage
Customers Affected: Up to 28 million customer visits

Incident : Data Breach MCD192211123
Entity Type: Corporation
Industry: Fast Food
Location: Canada
Customers Affected: 95000

Incident : Data Breach MCD12811322
Entity Type: Corporation
Industry: Fast Food
Location: South Korea, Taiwan, United States
Response to the Incidents
What measures were taken in response to each incident?

Incident : Data Breach MCD344071125
Containment Measures: Changed default administrative credentials, Resolved IDOR vulnerability
Remediation Measures: Removed default credentials, Fixed IDOR vulnerability

Incident : Data Breach MCD192211123
Containment Measures: shutdown of recruitment website

Incident : Data Breach MCD132714822
Containment Measures: Pulled down the website

Incident : Data Breach MCD15030622
Law Enforcement Notified: Yes

Incident : Data Breach MCD0718522
Law Enforcement Notified: Yes
Data Breach Information
What type of data was compromised in each breach?

Incident : Data Breach MCD344071125
Type of Data Compromised: Personal Information, Contact Information, Authentication Tokens, Chat Messages
Number of Records Exposed: 64 million
Sensitivity of Data: High
Personally Identifiable Information: Names, Email Addresses, Phone Numbers, Home Addresses

Incident : Data Breach MCD192211123
Type of Data Compromised: names, addresses, emails, phone numbers, employment histories
Number of Records Exposed: 95000
Personally Identifiable Information: names, addresses, emails, phone numbers

Incident : Data Breach MCD132714822
Type of Data Compromised: names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, employment backgrounds
Number of Records Exposed: 95,000
Personally Identifiable Information: names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers

Incident : Data Breach MCD15030622
Type of Data Compromised: Credit Card Numbers
Number of Records Exposed: 100
Sensitivity of Data: High
Data Exfiltration: Yes

Incident : Data Breach MCD0718522
Type of Data Compromised: Personal Information, Contact Information
Sensitivity of Data: High
Personally Identifiable Information: Yes

Incident : Data Breach MCD12811322
Type of Data Compromised: Personal data, Business contact information, Restaurant information
What measures does the company take to prevent data exfiltration?
Prevention of Data Exfiltration: The company takes the following measures to prevent data exfiltration: Removed default credentials, Fixed IDOR vulnerability.
How does the company handle incidents involving personally identifiable information (PII)?
Handling of PII Incidents: The company handles incidents involving personally identifiable information (PII) through were Changed default administrative credentials, Resolved IDOR vulnerability, shutdown of recruitment website and Pulled down the website.
Lessons Learned and Recommendations
What lessons were learned from each incident?

Incident : Data Breach MCD344071125
Lessons Learned: The incident highlights the importance of basic security hygiene and governance around AI systems that collect or process personal data.
What recommendations were made to prevent future incidents?

Incident : Data Breach MCD344071125
Recommendations: Implement proper authentication, auditability, and integration into broader risk workflows, Treat AI as a regulated asset and implement frameworks that ensure accountability
What are the key lessons learned from past incidents?
Key Lessons Learned: The key lessons learned from past incidents are The incident highlights the importance of basic security hygiene and governance around AI systems that collect or process personal data.
What recommendations has the company implemented to improve cybersecurity?
Implemented Recommendations: The company has implemented the following recommendations to improve cybersecurity: Implement proper authentication, auditability, and integration into broader risk workflows, Treat AI as a regulated asset and implement frameworks that ensure accountability.
References
Where can I find more information about each incident?

Incident : Data Breach MCD344071125
Source: Reddit

Incident : Data Breach MCD344071125
Source: Ian Carroll

Incident : Breach MCD453061725
Source: Redburn Atlantic
Where can stakeholders find additional resources on cybersecurity best practices?
Additional Resources: Stakeholders can find additional resources on cybersecurity best practices at and Source: Reddit, and Source: Ian Carroll, and Source: Redburn Atlantic.
Investigation Status
What is the current status of the investigation for each incident?

Incident : Data Breach MCD132714822
Investigation Status: Ongoing

Incident : Data Breach MCD15030622
Investigation Status: Ongoing

Incident : Data Breach MCD0718522
Investigation Status: Ongoing
Initial Access Broker
How did the initial access broker gain entry for each incident?

Incident : Data Breach MCD344071125
Entry Point: Weak Default Credentials

Incident : Data Breach MCD0718522
Entry Point: Unprotected Database
Post-Incident Analysis
What were the root causes and corrective actions taken for each incident?

Incident : Data Breach MCD344071125
Root Causes: Weak Default Credentials, IDOR Vulnerability
Corrective Actions: Changed default administrative credentials, Resolved IDOR vulnerability

Incident : Data Breach MCD0718522
Root Causes: Unprotected Database
What corrective actions has the company taken based on post-incident analysis?
Corrective Actions Taken: The company has taken the following corrective actions based on post-incident analysis: Changed default administrative credentials, Resolved IDOR vulnerability.
Additional Questions
General Information
Who was the attacking group in the last incident?
Last Attacking Group: The attacking group in the last incident were an Employee and Hackers.
Incident Details
What was the most recent incident detected?
Most Recent Incident Detected: The most recent incident detected was on 2025-06-30.
What was the most recent incident resolved?
Most Recent Incident Resolved: The most recent incident resolved was on 2025-07-01.
Impact of the Incidents
What was the highest financial loss from an incident?
Highest Financial Loss: The highest financial loss from an incident was ['Revenue loss of $482 million per year', "Approximately 0.9% of the company's sales"].
What was the most significant data compromised in an incident?
Most Significant Data Compromised: The most significant data compromised in an incident were Names, Email Addresses, Phone Numbers, Home Addresses, Authentication Tokens, Raw Chat Messages, names, addresses, emails, phone numbers, employment histories, names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, employment backgrounds, 100 credit card numbers, Client names, Marital status, Address, Email, Document identification numbers, Phone numbers, Employee personal data, Business contact information and Restaurant information.
What was the most significant system affected in an incident?
Most Significant System Affected: The most significant system affected in an incident were McHire Platform, Olivia Chatbot and hiring website.
Response to the Incidents
What containment measures were taken in the most recent incident?
Containment Measures in Most Recent Incident: The containment measures taken in the most recent incident were Changed default administrative credentials, Resolved IDOR vulnerability, shutdown of recruitment website and Pulled down the website.
Data Breach Information
What was the most sensitive data compromised in a breach?
Most Sensitive Data Compromised: The most sensitive data compromised in a breach were Names, Email Addresses, Phone Numbers, Home Addresses, Authentication Tokens, Raw Chat Messages, names, addresses, emails, phone numbers, employment histories, names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, employment backgrounds, 100 credit card numbers, Client names, Marital status, Address, Email, Document identification numbers, Phone numbers, Employee personal data, Business contact information and Restaurant information.
What was the number of records exposed in the most significant breach?
Number of Records Exposed in Most Significant Breach: The number of records exposed in the most significant breach was 64.1M.
Lessons Learned and Recommendations
What was the most significant lesson learned from past incidents?
Most Significant Lesson Learned: The most significant lesson learned from past incidents was The incident highlights the importance of basic security hygiene and governance around AI systems that collect or process personal data.
What was the most significant recommendation implemented to improve cybersecurity?
Most Significant Recommendation Implemented: The most significant recommendation implemented to improve cybersecurity was Implement proper authentication, auditability, and integration into broader risk workflows, Treat AI as a regulated asset and implement frameworks that ensure accountability.
References
What is the most recent source of information about an incident?
Most Recent Source: The most recent source of information about an incident are Reddit, Ian Carroll and Redburn Atlantic.
Investigation Status
What is the current status of the most recent investigation?
Current Status of Most Recent Investigation: The current status of the most recent investigation is Ongoing.
Initial Access Broker
What was the most recent entry point used by an initial access broker?
Most Recent Entry Point: The most recent entry point used by an initial access broker were an Weak Default Credentials and Unprotected Database.
Post-Incident Analysis
What was the most significant root cause identified in post-incident analysis?
Most Significant Root Cause: The most significant root cause identified in post-incident analysis was Weak Default Credentials, IDOR Vulnerability, Unprotected Database.
What was the most significant corrective action taken based on post-incident analysis?
Most Significant Corrective Action: The most significant corrective action taken based on post-incident analysis was Changed default administrative credentials, Resolved IDOR vulnerability.
What Do We Measure?
Every week, Rankiteo analyzes billions of signals to give organizations a sharper, faster view of emerging risks. With deeper, more actionable intelligence at their fingertips, security teams can outpace threat actors, respond instantly to Zero-Day attacks, and dramatically shrink their risk exposure window.
These are some of the factors we use to calculate the overall score:
Identify exposed access points, detect misconfigured SSL certificates, and uncover vulnerabilities across the network infrastructure.
Gain visibility into the software components used within an organization to detect vulnerabilities, manage risk, and ensure supply chain security.
Monitor and manage all IT assets and their configurations to ensure accurate, real-time visibility across the company's technology environment.
Leverage real-time insights on active threats, malware campaigns, and emerging vulnerabilities to proactively defend against evolving cyberattacks.
