By Emily Caulkett-
Santander has issued an apology following a significant data breach that reportedly compromised the personal information of millions of customers and all staff members. The cybercriminal gang ShinyHunters, which also claimed to have hacked Ticketmaster this week, is believed to have accessed data from 560 million people, including 30 million Santander customers.
The breach has affected around 200,000 employees globally, with 20,000 based in the UK. In a statement, Santander confirmed that it had become aware of unauthorized access to a database hosted by a third-party provider.
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“Upon discovery, we immediately implemented measures to contain the incident,” Santander stated. However, after a thorough investigation, it was confirmed that customer information from Chile, Spain, and Uruguay had been accessed. The bank reassured that no other markets or businesses within Santander were affected.
Crucially, the bank emphasized that no transactional data or credentials that could enable account transactions, including online banking details and passwords, were compromised. The specific nature of the accessed data remains unclear, but Santander confirmed that its banking systems remain unaffected.
“We apologize for the concern this will understandably cause,” the bank continued. “We are proactively contacting affected customers and employees directly. We have also notified regulators and law enforcement and will continue to work closely with them.”
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The incident has raised significant concerns among customers and employees, highlighting the ongoing risks associated with data security in the digital age. While the claims by ShinyHunters should be treated with caution, as experts suggest, the scale of the reported breach underscores the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures.
Santander’s swift response to contain the breach and their commitment to transparency and cooperation with authorities are crucial steps in addressing the fallout from this cyber attack. As investigations continue, customers and employees are advised to remain vigilant and monitor their accounts for any unusual activity.
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