Customer data for associated retailers and brands Currys, PC World, Dixons Travel, and KnowHow is held on separate systems, and was not accessed.
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Personal information including emails, addresses, and dates of birth have been pilfered, but not only personal details, but also financial information in some cases, such as bank account or card numbers. The credit card data of 90,000 customers “may have also been accessed”, the business added, despite the data being encrypted. ‘We took immediate action to secure these systems and launched an investigation with a leading cyber security firm to determine exactly what data was affected, ‘ the company claimed.
The affected division operates OneStopPhoneShop.com, e2save.com and Mobiles.co.uk.
Dixons Carphone chief executive Sebastian James has confirmed that “additional security measures” have been put in place by the company.
The warning continued: “As soon as they realised this, Carphone Warehouse shut down the sites”.
On Saturday, the UK-based mobile device retail giant released a statement indicating that both its websites and Internet services were penetrated by hackers in a “sophisticated cyberattack” discovered last Wednesday. Security experts have requested customers who have fallen prey to the breach that they should change their passwords. If Carphone Warehouse is now found to have inadequate security provision for its customers by the investigators, it may well face a fine of up to 500,000 Euros. “British firms are increasingly a target after the big hacks in America of Target and EBay”.
“If you have not received a communication from us regarding data security, your information should not be impacted and this message does not apply to you”, the company explains.
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Consumer groups have complained that customers may not read the email over the weekend, and the company should have sent affected customers repeated text messages to make sure they are aware their details may have been compromised.
