Microsoft said Monday it was investigating an attack by hackers on its Indian retail website, reportedly carried out by a Chinese group called the "Evil Shadow Team."

The team struck at www.microsoftstore.co.in late Sunday, stealing login IDs and passwords of people who had used the website for buying Microsoft products, the Times of India newspaper said.

After hacking the site, the Evil Shadow Team posted a message saying that the "unsafe system will be baptized," the Times of India said.

The Microsoft site was running a message Monday saying that the "Microsoft Store India is currently unavailable" and that the world's largest software company was working "to restore access as quickly as possible."

A spokesman for the group said that Microsoft was "investigating a limited compromise of the company's online store in India," without elaborating.

"The store customers have already been sent guidance on the issue and suggested immediate actions," the spokesman said, adding that Microsoft was "diligently working to remedy the issue and keep our customers protected."

Two years ago, cyber-attackers identifying themselves as the "Pakistan Cyber Army" hacked the website of India's top police agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Indian IT specialists have long lamented what they say is a lack of awareness about Internet security across the country.