The Medibank cyberattack has taken the heat off a data breach at Woolworths’ new online marketplace, MyDeal, but retailers remain on high alert after a string of hacks that have stolen the data of more than 16 million consumers in a month.

With their reams of personal and credit card data from loyalty schemes, e-commerce sites, online marketplaces, subscription-based delivery services and point of sale systems, retailers have emerged as irresistible targets for hackers.