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A hack on British Airways put 380,000 payment cards at risk. The hack took place between 21 August and 5 September. According to the airline, the problem has now been solved. The police and affected customers have been notified.

The airline is still investigating the hack, reports The Guardian. During the attack, both financial and personal data from customers booking via ba.com and the British Airway app were stolen. According to the company, details of the trips and passports are not in jeopardy.

“British Airways is now talking to affected customers. We recommend that all customers who suspect that they have been affected by this incident contact their banks or credit card providers and follow their advice,” said the airline. “We’ve notified the police and relevant authorities.”

The National Crime Agency claims to be aware of reports of a data breach at British Airways. “We work with partners to determine the best course of action.”

Trust

It is as yet unclear how the hackers managed to penetrate British Airways’ systems. According to Alex Neill of Which? however, the airline has to take steps quickly. “It is now important for the company to take swift action to ensure that affected customers are provided with information about what has happened and what steps they need to take to protect themselves.

“Anyone who thinks they are at risk of fraud should consider changing their online passwords and monitoring their bank and other online accounts,” said Neill. “They should also watch out for emails about the leak, as scammers may take advantage of it.”

The data leak could have major consequences for the company. If the investigation shows that British Airways was negligent, it will be fined under the new European Privacy Act (GDPR). This fine may amount to a maximum of 4 percent of the worldwide turnover.

This news article was automatically translated from Dutch to give Techzine.eu a head start. All news articles after September 1, 2019 are written in native English and NOT translated. All our background stories are written in native English as well. For more information read our launch article.