10 High Profile Irish Companies Who Lost Customer Data

We have compiled a list of just 10 (there are lots more) high profile Irish companies who have been hacked in the last 20 years. If you are wondering how scammers got your email address or phone number then you were probably on one of the sources below….

 

  1. Bank of Ireland (2008)
    • Details: A sophisticated phishing attack targeted Bank of Ireland, where hackers sent fake emails to customers, tricking them into revealing their online banking credentials.
    • Impact: Personal and financial information of numerous customers was compromised, leading to financial losses.
  2. Eir (formerly Eircom) (2018)
    • Details: Eir suffered a data breach where a significant amount of customer data was accessed illegally.
    • Impact: Personal details of 37,000 customers, including names, email addresses, phone numbers, and account numbers, were exposed.
  3. Health Service Executive (HSE) (2021)
    • Details: The HSE experienced a major ransomware attack that disrupted healthcare services across Ireland.
    • Impact: Sensitive patient data, including medical records and personal information, was compromised, and hospital operations were severely affected.
  4. AIB (Allied Irish Banks) (2014)
    • Details: AIB customers were targeted by a phishing scam where fake emails were sent to obtain banking details.
    • Impact: Many customers were tricked into providing their online banking credentials, leading to unauthorized transactions and financial losses.
  5. Tesco Ireland (2016)
    • Details: Tesco Bank, which operates in Ireland, experienced a cyber attack affecting thousands of its customers.
    • Impact: Personal and financial information of over 40,000 customers was compromised, resulting in unauthorized transactions.
  6. Vodafone Ireland (2013)
    • Details: Vodafone Ireland experienced a data breach where customer information was illegally accessed.
    • Impact: Personal details, including names, addresses, and phone numbers of 2 million customers, were compromised.
  7. Ryanair (2015)
    • Details: Ryanair’s online payment system was targeted by hackers, resulting in a significant financial loss.
    • Impact: Hackers managed to siphon off nearly €5 million from the company’s bank accounts, though the funds were later recovered.
  8. Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann) (2020)
    • Details: Irish Rail suffered a cyber attack that targeted its online booking system.
    • Impact: Personal and payment information of customers using the online booking system was at risk of exposure.
  9. Permanent TSB (2014)
    • Details: Permanent TSB customers were targeted by a phishing scam involving fake emails and text messages.
    • Impact: Many customers’ online banking credentials were compromised, leading to unauthorized access to their accounts.
  10. SuperValu (2017)
    • Details: SuperValu, a popular supermarket chain in Ireland, was targeted in a data breach involving its online shopping platform.
    • Impact: Personal and payment information of customers who used the online shopping service was potentially exposed.

These incidents highlight the importance of cybersecurity measures and awareness for both companies and consumers in Ireland.