Cybercrime - Information delay unfair

The hacking of the customer database of the Clare-based business Loyaltybuild poses serious questions that seem to be growing hourly. The hacking occurred during October, but there has been a distinct delay in relaying the gravity of the situation to the public.

Loyaltybuild disclosed that hackers stole the credit card information and financial details of hundreds of thousands of people on its system. Initially it was suggested that there was no evidence of any criminal attempt to use this information to obtain money from the accounts of those people whose details were stolen.

The theft involved thousands of customers of SuperValu, Axa Insurance, and the ESB. It also involves smaller numbers of customers with Stena Line, Clerys, Tog International and Unislim Northern Ireland. AIB and Permanent TSB have disclosed that “dozens” of their customers have been affected.