Hackers target 2.4 million Carphone Warehouse customers

Up to 2.4 million Carphone Warehouse customers are feared to have had their personal data stolen, after the retailer was attacked by cyber criminals.

The encrypted credit card data of up to 90,000 people may also have been compromised.

Carphone Warehouse said the security breach was discovered on Wednesday.

The division additionally offers providers to iD Mobile, TalkTalk Mobile, Talk Mobile, and to some Carphone Warehouse clients.

Those who connected via Carphone Warehouse direct (store or carphonewarehouse.co.uk) are understood to not be affected. It said it had put in place additional security measures to prevent further attacks.

“We take the safety of buyer data extraordinarily critically, and we’re very sorry that folks have been affected by this attack on our methods”, Group Chief Executive Sebastian James stated.

The retailers has now turned to a “leading cyber security firm” to find out exactly what happened and the full scope of the data that was stolen.

Carphone Warehouse, which is owned by Dixons Carphone following last year’s £3.7bn merger, also incorporates Currys and PC World.

Other cases included an attack on Sony Pictures that reportedly originated in North Korea in retaliation to Hollywood film The Interview, which depicted the assassination of Kim Jong-un.