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SOUTHERN WATER CUSTOMERS AFFECTED BY CYBER ATTACK

Published
3 days ago

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Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Southern Water serves millions of customers
By Lauren Collins
BBC News, South East


Southern Water has warned that data belonging to 5-10% of its customers has been
stolen in a cyber attack.

In an email to customers on Tuesday, the firm said personal details and
financial information may have been stolen for sale on the dark web.

The company provides water services across Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle
of Wight.

It apologised and said it had contacted regulators and was working with
cybersecurity experts.

Southern Water provides essential water services to 2.5 million customers and
wastewater services to more than 4.7 million customers.

In an email to customers seen by the BBC, it said data including names, dates of
birth, national insurance numbers, bank account details and reference numbers
could have been stolen.



The company said it had been monitoring suspicious activity in its IT systems
since it was named on a cyber crime website last month.

In a statement the company said: "Based on our forensic investigations so far,
which are ongoing, we are planning to notify in the order of 5 to 10% of our
customer base to let them know that their personal data has been impacted. We
are also notifying all of our current employees and some former employees.

"We have engaged leading independent cybersecurity experts to monitor the 'dark
web'. We take data protection and information security very seriously and, in
accordance with our regulatory obligations, we are making contact with anyone
whose personal data may be at risk."

It added that services and water supplies had not been affected.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said it had received a report about
the incident and was investigating.

It added: "Our advice to the public remains that if anyone is concerned about
how their data has been handled or they are concerned about a potential breach,
they should get in touch with the ICO."




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RELATED TOPICS

 * Southern Water
 * Cyber-attacks


MORE ON THIS STORY

 * 'Worrying precedent' as hackers target water firm
   
   Published
   16 August 2022
   
   

 * NHS IT supplier held to ransom by hackers
   
   Published
   11 August 2022
   
   


RELATED INTERNET LINKS

 * Southern Water

 * Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)

 * National Cyber Security Centre

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