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Carphone Warehouse in customer data breach | Carphone Warehouse in customer data breach |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Personal details of up to 2.4 million Carphone Warehouse customers may have been accessed in a cyber-attack, the mobile phone retailer says. | Personal details of up to 2.4 million Carphone Warehouse customers may have been accessed in a cyber-attack, the mobile phone retailer says. |
Up to 90,000 customers may also have had their encrypted credit card details accessed, it said in a statement. | Up to 90,000 customers may also have had their encrypted credit card details accessed, it said in a statement. |
While the "vast majority" of Carphone Warehouse customers are unaffected, the breach does concern some of the company's separately managed divisions. | While the "vast majority" of Carphone Warehouse customers are unaffected, the breach does concern some of the company's separately managed divisions. |
The retailer's owner, Dixons Carphone, said it was very sorry for the attack. | The retailer's owner, Dixons Carphone, said it was very sorry for the attack. |
The affected part of the company operates the OneStopPhoneShop.com, e2save.com and Mobiles.co.uk websites. | The affected part of the company operates the OneStopPhoneShop.com, e2save.com and Mobiles.co.uk websites. |
It also provides services to iD Mobile, TalkTalk Mobile, Talk Mobile and some Carphone Warehouse customers. | It also provides services to iD Mobile, TalkTalk Mobile, Talk Mobile and some Carphone Warehouse customers. |
Sebastian James, chief executive of Dixons Carphone, said: "We are, of course, informing anyone that may have been affected, and have put in place additional security measures. | Sebastian James, chief executive of Dixons Carphone, said: "We are, of course, informing anyone that may have been affected, and have put in place additional security measures. |
"We take the security of customer data extremely seriously, and we are very sorry that people have been affected by this attack on our systems." | "We take the security of customer data extremely seriously, and we are very sorry that people have been affected by this attack on our systems." |
Carphone Warehouse said it was informing all customers who may have been affected of the breach. | Carphone Warehouse said it was informing all customers who may have been affected of the breach. |
It will also advise affected individuals on how to reduce the risk of further consequences arising from the data leak. | It will also advise affected individuals on how to reduce the risk of further consequences arising from the data leak. |
What can those affected do? | What can those affected do? |
Those who think they have been the victim of fraud should contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. | Those who think they have been the victim of fraud should contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. |
Craig Gee-Clough, from Bolton, told the BBC he has been contacted by mobiles.co.uk about the breach via letter. | |
"I can't contact the bank until after the weekend so am worried about what offences can be committed. Fraudsters can do anything with that information." | "I can't contact the bank until after the weekend so am worried about what offences can be committed. Fraudsters can do anything with that information." |
He said he is also unhappy about now having to pay to check his credit files. | He said he is also unhappy about now having to pay to check his credit files. |
The company's investigation found that the data could have included names, addresses, dates of birth and bank details. | The company's investigation found that the data could have included names, addresses, dates of birth and bank details. |
A Carphone Warehouse spokesman said the attack was stopped "straight away" after it was discovered on Wednesday afternoon. | A Carphone Warehouse spokesman said the attack was stopped "straight away" after it was discovered on Wednesday afternoon. |
He also said the breach was likely to have occurred at some point "within the last two weeks before Wednesday afternoon". | He also said the breach was likely to have occurred at some point "within the last two weeks before Wednesday afternoon". |
The BBC's Joe Lynam says Carphone Warehouse first became aware of the problem on 5 August. | The BBC's Joe Lynam says Carphone Warehouse first became aware of the problem on 5 August. |
"In that time, 72 hours, they will say we need to find the depth of the breach, but let's say some people do have their cards compromised," he said. | "In that time, 72 hours, they will say we need to find the depth of the breach, but let's say some people do have their cards compromised," he said. |
"They will be livid that they weren't told straight away, so they could cancel those cards." | "They will be livid that they weren't told straight away, so they could cancel those cards." |
Talk Talk used to be owned by Carphone Warehouse but is a separate company - Carphone Warehouse now has contractual ties to it. | Talk Talk used to be owned by Carphone Warehouse but is a separate company - Carphone Warehouse now has contractual ties to it. |
But 480,000 Talk Talk Mobile customers are affected by this breach. | But 480,000 Talk Talk Mobile customers are affected by this breach. |
Carphone Warehouse took the affected websites down itself, to protect data once the problem was recognised. | Carphone Warehouse took the affected websites down itself, to protect data once the problem was recognised. |
Customer information for Currys and PC World - and the "vast majority" of Carphone Warehouse - is held on separate systems and was not accessed during the attack, the company added. | Customer information for Currys and PC World - and the "vast majority" of Carphone Warehouse - is held on separate systems and was not accessed during the attack, the company added. |
Previous data breaches | Previous data breaches |
The Information Commissioner's Office, which is the regulator in the area of personal data, can impose fines of up to £500,000 if a company is found to have not done enough to protect its customers' personal information. | The Information Commissioner's Office, which is the regulator in the area of personal data, can impose fines of up to £500,000 if a company is found to have not done enough to protect its customers' personal information. |
Dixons Carphone was formed last year by the merger of Carphone Warehouse and Dixons Retail. | Dixons Carphone was formed last year by the merger of Carphone Warehouse and Dixons Retail. |
In July it reported a 21% jump in profits in its first annual results since the merger that created the mobile phone and electrical goods firm. | In July it reported a 21% jump in profits in its first annual results since the merger that created the mobile phone and electrical goods firm. |
In the UK and Ireland, where it trades under the Carphone Warehouse, Currys and PC World names, sales rose by 8%. | In the UK and Ireland, where it trades under the Carphone Warehouse, Currys and PC World names, sales rose by 8%. |
Are you a Carphone Warehouse customer? Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. | Are you a Carphone Warehouse customer? Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. |
If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. You can also tweet your stories to @BBC_HaveYourSay or text 61124. If you are outside the UK, send them to the international number +44 7624 800 100. | If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. You can also tweet your stories to @BBC_HaveYourSay or text 61124. If you are outside the UK, send them to the international number +44 7624 800 100. |
Or WhatsApp us on +44 7525 900971 | Or WhatsApp us on +44 7525 900971 |
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