EasyJet reveals cyber-attack stole data of 9m customers

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United Kingdom (UK) low-cost airline EasyJet has admitted that a “highly sophisticated cyber-attack” has affected approximately nine million customers.

The UK airline has admitted credit card details of 2,208 customers had been stolen by hackers who have also managed to access email addresses and travel details of approximately 9 million people.

“We are informing our customers that easyJet has been the target of an attack from a highly sophisticated source. A forensic investigation found that the names, email addresses and travel details of approximately 9 million customers were accessed. In addition to the above, the investigation also found that the credit card details of 2,208 customers were accessed. Action has already been taken to contact all these customers (by 26 May) and they have been offered support,” the airlines said in a release Tuesday.

National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) have been notified of the data breach. Travel details include name, email address, departure date, origin airport and destination. Financial details and passport information were not accessed.

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So far, there is no evidence of personal information, including credit card data, being misused.

This comes less than two months after another similar hacking incident in April. The airlines had said credit card details of a small group of customers had been impacted.

Phishing

Phishing attempts – which see criminals sending emails with links to fake web pages that steal personal data – have risen exponentially during the coronavirus crisis.

Google is blocking more than 100 million phishing emails every day to Gmail users.

It is likely that hackers will take advantage of the fact people are cancelling flights because of the uncertainty related to the spread of COVID-19, said Ray Walsh, a digital privacy expert.

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