TalkTalk Group Details

TalkTalk Group

Salford, England • employees • Telecommunications

Industry

Telecommunications

Security Incidents

TalkTalk Telecom Group plc is a company that provides pay television and Internet access services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom.

Security Incidents

TalkTalk Group Breach of Oct 2015

Severity Score

Moderate to Significant

Type

Data Breach

Summary

In October 2015, TalkTalk Group, a UK-based telecommunications company, experienced a significant data breach that exposed the personal information of approximately 157,000 customers. The breach was orchestrated by a group of teenage hackers who exploited a vulnerability in TalkTalk's website to gain unauthorized access. The compromised data included names, addresses, dates of birth, email addresses, and in some cases, financial information such as bank account details. TalkTalk faced substantial criticism for its inadequate security measures and the delay in notifying affected customers. The ...
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Severity

The TalkTalk Group cyber security incident of October 2015 was severe as it resulted in the illegal access of personal and banking details of around 160,000 customers. The breach led to a ransom demand from the perpetrators, indicating a high level of sophistication and malicious intent. TalkTalk faced significant financial damages ranging between £30 million and £35 million due to the loss of online sales and service capability.

Impact

The breach impacted customers who had their personal and banking information illegally accessed, leading to potential risks of identity theft and financial fraud. TalkTalk customers expressed anger and concern over the breach, especially when the firm initially only waived account termination fees on a case-by-case basis for those who had money stolen from their bank accounts. The delayed admission of the true scale of the attack caused further distress among customers and investors.