Hackers steal details of 4.5m users of Monster.co.uk in
By Daily Mail Reporter
27th January 2009
Computer hackers have stolen the personal data of 4.5m jobseekers from the Monster.co.uk website.
The personal details of 4.5 million people have been stolen from a recruitment website in Britain's biggest case of cyber theft.
Hackers accessed the confidential information of job seekers registered with Monster.co.uk and now hold electronic copies of their user names, passwords, telephone numbers and email addresses.
Information such as birth dates, gender and ethnicity was also taken, along with 'basic demographic data'. The victims are mainly professionals.
Monster.co.uk has posted a message on the site advising all customers to change their passwords immediately.
'We regret any inconvenience this may cause you, but feel it is important that you take these preventative measures,' the message said.
Experts today warned the data could be used by gangs to open fake bank accounts or take out loans in the names of customers.
'It's a horrendous breach,' said Graham Cluley of computer security firm Sophos.
'These hackers could now use the passwords to access email and online bank accounts. The information they have can be used to cause all kinds of mischief.'
Mr Cluley said there were growing concerns that criminals could use the information to access people's bank details since users often used the same password.
It is also feared the hackers will use the information to launch so-called phishing attacks, using the information stolen from Monster to trick users into giving out more details.
'One very real risk is that hackers will use the email addresses and personal information they have received to mount a phishing campaign, attempting to gather more sensitive information about victims,' said Mr Cluley.
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