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TalkTalk website hit by cyber-attack TalkTalk website hit by cyber-attack
(35 minutes later)
Police are investigating after a "significant and sustained cyber-attack" on the TalkTalk website, the UK company has said. Police are investigating a "significant and sustained cyber-attack" on the TalkTalk website, the UK company says.
The phone and broadband provider, which has more than four million customers in the UK, said credit card and bank details could have been accessed. The phone and broadband provider, which has over four million UK customers, said banking details and personal information could have been accessed.
TalkTalk said potentially all customers could be affected but it was too early to know what data had been stolen.TalkTalk said potentially all customers could be affected but it was too early to know what data had been stolen.
The Metropolitan Police is investigating Wednesday's attack. The Metropolitan Police said no-one had been arrested over Wednesday's attack but enquiries were ongoing.
A spokeswoman for the Met said: "There have been no arrests and enquiries are ongoing." TalkTalk said in a statement that a criminal investigation had been launched on Thursday.
TalkTalk said in a statement that a criminal investigation had been launched on Thursday, adding there was a chance that customers' names, addresses, dates of birth, email addresses and bank details had been accessed. It said there was a chance that some of the following customer data had been accessed:
Dido Harding, chief executive of the TalkTalk group, told BBC News: "We brought down all our websites [on Wednesday] lunchtime and have spent the last 24 hours investigating with the Met Police.Dido Harding, chief executive of the TalkTalk group, told BBC News: "We brought down all our websites [on Wednesday] lunchtime and have spent the last 24 hours investigating with the Met Police.
"It's too early to know exactly what data has been attacked and what has been stolen... Potentially it could affect all of our customers, which is why we are contacting them all by email and we will also write to them as well." "It's too early to know exactly what data has been attacked and what has been stolen...
This is the third in a spate of cyber attacks affecting TalkTalk customers. "Potentially it could affect all of our customers, which is why we are contacting them all by email and we will also write to them as well."
In August, the company revealed its mobile sales site had been targeted and personal data was breached by criminals. This is the third in a spate of cyber attacks affecting TalkTalk customers over the past 12 months.
And in February TalkTalk customers were warned about scammers who had managed to steal thousands of account numbers and names, which was discovered after a surge in complaints about scam calls. In August, the company revealed its mobile sales site had been targeted and personal data breached.
And in February, TalkTalk customers were warned about scammers who had managed to steal thousands of account numbers and names.
Ms Harding said: "Unfortunately cybercrime is the crime of our generation.Ms Harding said: "Unfortunately cybercrime is the crime of our generation.
"Can our defences be stronger? Absolutely. Can every company's defences be stronger?"Can our defences be stronger? Absolutely. Can every company's defences be stronger?
"I'm a customer myself of Talk Talk, I've been a victim of this attack.""I'm a customer myself of Talk Talk, I've been a victim of this attack."
Banks alerted
It is expected to take some time to contact everyone and a number of customers have taken to social media to express their frustration that they are yet to hear anything.It is expected to take some time to contact everyone and a number of customers have taken to social media to express their frustration that they are yet to hear anything.
TalkTalk urged customers to keep an eye on their accounts over the next few months and report any unusual activity to their bank and Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.TalkTalk urged customers to keep an eye on their accounts over the next few months and report any unusual activity to their bank and Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
Ms Harding said the website was now secure again and the company had also contacted the major banks asking them to monitor for any suspicious activity on customers' accounts. Ms Harding said the website was now secure again and TV, broadband, mobile and phone services had not been affected by the attack.
She said that every customer would also be getting a year's free credit monitoring. The TalkTalk sales website and the "My account" services are still down but the company hopes to restore them on Friday.
The company said it had contacted the major banks asking them to monitor for any suspicious activity on customers' accounts and that every customer would also be getting a year's free credit monitoring.
Ms Harding said: "The biggest risk is that customers' details have been stolen and criminals try to impersonate them."
Are you a TalkTalk customer? If you have any information to share with the BBC, you can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you a TalkTalk customer? If you have any information to share with the BBC, you can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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