By John Leyden for The
Register.
This story has been reproduced with permission.
Server equipment containing customer data was stolen in a
break-in at its Leigh offices late last month, prompting the firm
to issue a precautionary alert. Bank and card details for both
current and previous customers, as well as First Response workers,
was potentially exposed as a result of the burglary. However the
firm stresses that a "sophisticated level of equipment and
knowledge" would be needed to access the data.
First Response said the Customer alert is purely a precaution
and that the risk posed by the attack are "minimal". It has alerted
affected customers' banks directly. Nonetheless it advises
customers to keep an eye out for "unusual transactions on their
accounts", asking them to advise their banks directly of any
suspicious transactions, or "unexpected offers of finance or
credit". More detailed advice can be found in an alert posted on
the firm's website here.
A representative for the firm was reluctant to say what exactly
had been swiped beyond saying it was equipment from a server rather
than backup tapes. It's unclear whether or not the data was
encrypted.
Greater Manchester police are investigating the burglary, which
First Response has reported to the Information Commissioner. First
Response Finance is a specialist firm that handles the financing of
hire purchase agreements for motor vehicles and the like.
© The Register
2007
