How Can a Modern Company Still Be Hacked in This Day and Age?
Security attacks and hacking is becoming very popular as days go by. Web designers such as Web Design Warrington are doing everything in their power to enhance the security of websites. Hacking can be costly to companies because of the stolen or exposed confidential data.
The recent victim of hack is British Airways. The BA boss said that the hack was a very sophisticated and malicious attack. The breach allowed cybercriminals to steal personal information and financial information of 380,000 customers who booked directly with the airline over a two-week period.
So What Happened?
Between 10:58 pm on the August 21 and 9:45 pm on September 5, 2018, hackers stole the personal and financial information of people who had booked flights on the ba.com website and the British Airways app.
The data breach was identified by a third party who noticed some unusual activities and reported to the management. The management then informed the police and the Information Commissioner. After the attack, the airline acted immediately by closing the issue, and an investigation started as soon as possible.
Who Did The Attack Affect?
Web Design Warrington understands that the number of affected people reach up to 380,000 people who booked directly with the airline during the 15-day spell when security was breached. But bookings made after this timeframe or through the travel agents were not affected.
Travellers who booked British Airways through other airlines’ website such as American Airlines, Aer Lingus or Iberia have not had their information stolen.
What Data Was Stolen?
When a passenger is booking through the BA Website, they must submit their name, address, and credit or debit card details. BA confirmed that all the bank card details were at risk, e.g., the number, expiry date, and security code.
With the information stolen, the cybercriminal has various options, from selling on the data to other criminals to making online purchases.
What To Do If Your Details Were Stolen
The British Airways contacted their customers who were affected and told them to contact their bank or credit card provider and follow their recommended advice. The bank can treat the card as a physically stolen card. The account remains the same, but the card number is changed.
Compensation
If a passenger reported the theft of their card details as soon as they became aware of it, issuers could not charge them for financial transactions. The BA management said that nobody would be left out of pocket. They also said that any customer who suffered a direct financial loss because of the theft of this data from British Airways would be reimbursed.
What does the attack mean for British Airways?
The attack was another embarrassment to the airline’s information technology system. Earlier in July 2018, about 7,000 passengers had their flights to or from Heathrow cancelled after an IT system failed.
The costs from this security breach could run into a significant amount; up to a million pounds. Moreover, the airline could face a stiff fine from the Information Commissioner.
At Blue Whale Media, the web design Warrington agency, we ensure all our websites are secure and up to date to keep our clients safe from online attacks. Contact us today for expert web design!
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