Virgin Media Database Exposed

Virgin Media admits leaving marketing database unsecured and accessible online for 10 months.

22:44 06 March 2020

A Virgin Media database containing the details of 900,000 customers and which was used for marketing purposes, was left unsecured and accessible for months, the company admits. 

 

The database, which contained phone numbers and home and email addresses but not passwords or financial details, was accessed by an unknown users “on at least one occasion.” 

 

Virgin Media confirms that the leak was not caused by a hack or criminal attack but by a member of staff who failed to follow the correct procedures in configuring the database. The firm also confirmed that it has alerted the Information Commissioner’s Office and has launched an investigation. 

 

Lutz Schüler, chief executive of Virgin Media said: "We recently became aware that one of our marketing databases was incorrectly configured which allowed unauthorised access. We immediately solved the issue by shutting down access."

 

"Protecting our customers' data is a top priority and we sincerely apologise," he said.

 

"Based upon our investigation, Virgin Media does believe that the database was accessed on at least one occasion but we do not know the extent of the access or if any information was actually used," Mr Schuler said.