THE personal details of more than 7,000 mobile phone customers and employees were contained on three stolen laptops, eircom has confirmed. The phone company revealed bank account or credit card details of 550 eMobile and Meteor customers is also at risk following the security breach. The Data Protection Commissioner is investigating.
Eircom said two unencrypted laptops were stolen from its offices at Parkwest, Dublin, in December and a third laptop was stolen from the home of an employee. "The incidents were immediately reported to the Gardai and two separate investigations are ongoing," said Paul Bradley, head of communications. "There is no evidence at this time that the data at risk has been used by a third party."
Internal investigations found two of the laptops contained personal data for 6,441 current and previous eMobile business customers, dating from August 2010 until December. While the majority included names, addresses and telephone numbers - files also featured financial or bank details of 146 eMobile customers.
Separately, the financial details of 404 Meteor post-pay customers who applied online between January and July 2011 were stolen. "The personal data at risk includes details such as an applicant's name, address, and telephone numbers as well as a range of documentation used to support a customer application such as passport and driver's licence details, various photo IDs or utility bills which all may have been used to establish proof of identity," Mr Bradley said. "In some cases financial data such as bank account, laser or credit card details is also at risk."
The laptop stolen from an employee's home contained the names and addresses of 686 Meteor employees. Eircom said all 550 customers whose financial data may be at risk are being contacted.
Customers of Meteor, which eircom took over in 2004, who believe they may have been affected can contact 1800 444 085 or log on at www.meteor.ie. Concerned eMobile business customers can call 1800 428 278 or can visit www.emobile.ie. The Irish Banking Federation has also been informed.
Mr Bradley said a review of eircom's encryption policy is under way to ensure all computers and laptops are compliant. "Eircom apologies to customers for the incident, It's extremely regrettable," he added.
