Equifax, a provider of consumer credit scores, has revealed that a recent hack exposed the personal details of up to 143 million United States consumers.
The company said criminals had accessed details including names, social security numbers, and, in some cases, drivers’ licence numbers.
Equifax also said personal information of some UK and Canadian residents were hacked.
In addition, credit card numbers of around 209,000 US consumers and “certain dispute documents” with personal identifying information of around 182,000 consumers were accessed, the company said.
The Atlanta-based company it would work with US, UK and Canadian regulators to determine the next steps.
Equifax, which discovered the unauthorised access on 29 July, said it had hired a cybersecurity firm to investigate the breach.
The company said there was no evidence of a breach into its “core consumer or commercial credit reporting” databases.
The company handles data on more than 820 million consumers and more than 91 million businesses worldwide and manages a database with employee information from more than 7,100 employers, according to its website.
“This is clearly a disappointing event for our company, and one that strikes at the heart of who we are and what we do,” Richard F. Smith, chairman and chief executive of Equifax, said in a statement. “Confronting cybersecurity risks is a daily fight.”
The company has created a website, www.equifaxsecurity2017.com, to help consumers determine whether their data was at risk.
“While we’ve made significant investments in data security, we recognise we must do more,” Mr. Smith said.
The Equifax hack follows last December’s attack on Yahoo in which more than 1bn user accounts were compromised in August 2013, while in 2014 EBay urged 145 million users to change their passwords following a cyber attack.
Related posts
Interviews
Comment
Why innovation and marketing are the perfect partners to make changes that matter
With the rapid evolution of traditional marketing and the appearance of digital marketing, technology and innovation has become part of any marketer’s life without the need of working for a…
Transitioning to a four-day week – CEO’s vow to strike a healthier balance in the workplace
I came to Scotland nearly 20 years ago from Ireland, with no contacts but a lot of determination. While Ireland will always be my home, Scotland has given me amazing…
Women Lead: The female-led company championing intuitive working
Over the last two years, the pandemic forced a shift to more remote and flexible working practices. Whilst we might be seeing a “return to normal”, some companies are choosing…
Women Lead: My passion for young people to consider a career in digital
Twenty years ago, I stumbled across my career in digital marketing almost by accident. It was during my honours degree in marketing at Glasgow Caledonian University. I was on work…
Women Lead: Inclusive Silicon Valley cohort gives hope to entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds
Things are happening on the Scottish tech scene. Big and small initiatives are creating a fantastic ripple effect on the sector, bottom up and top down, thanks to the recommendations…
Women Lead: The story of an entrepreneurial scientist
I first arrived in Scotland over 20 years ago. I had £75 in my wallet and a scholarship offer to do a PhD at the University of Edinburgh. Sometimes I…
Please mind the gap… or healthcare may fall
Imagine sharing a lengthy train journey with others. From beginning to end, imagine how often you might hear ‘mind the gap’ messages about embarking and disembarking safely. Picture how navigating…
Women Lead: My journey from Dragons’ Den to Silicon Valley
Following her appearance on Dragons’ Den, Sheila Hogan, serial entrepreneur, founder and chief executive of digital legacy vault, Biscuit Tin, shares her experience of her time in the Den and…