Stansted Airport owner hit with cyber attack as millions of customers’ data stolen
The owner of London Stansted has been targeted in a cyber attack that has led to customers data being stolen.
Manchester Airport Group (MAG), which runs Stansted, East Midlands and Manchester Airport, said on Thursday customers’ email addresses, phone numbers, vehicle registrations and postcodes had been seized in a “cyber security incident by an unauthorised third party”.
“We immediately contained the risk and have been working with specialist advisors and taking appropriate steps to protect our customers and systems,” the group said.
Customers notified by the company were told the system accessed by the hackers did not hold customers’ bank or payment details. Around 8.7m are believed to be affected.
Stansted wrote in an email to customers: “We would urge you to be particularly cautious of unexpected emails, calls or text messages claiming to be from us. We will never contact you unexpectedly to ask for payment or banking information. We apologise for any inconvenience or concern this may cause.”
MAG said it had only become aware of the incident on Tuesday and moved to prevent the hackers gaining any more access. Operations remain “unaffected”.
The hackers have been identified and relevant authorities have been informed, it added.
Figures earlier this year found large UK businesses were forced to fork out £3.7bn to defend legal action brought by shareholders last year over cyber attacks.
Research from insurance giant Gallagher and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) showed cyber attacks cost firms with over 250 employees an estimated £11.7bn in total, with litigation being the second largest expense after a £5.4bn hit in direct losses from disrupted trading. Lost assets accounted for a further £1.3bn for companies, while regulatory fines cost £108m.
Firms lost £573m in costs relating to reputational damage and nearly £400m revenue lost for customers cancelling contacts, reducing spending, or switching to alternative suppliers following the incidents.