Optimal launches investigation into data leak
Payments firm aware of customer data being made available in the public domain
Optimal Payments has launched an investigation into two alleged data breaches that led to customersâ financial information entering the public domain. [private]
The firm said it was aware âa small amountâ of customersâ personal data had been released and the data formed part of a âmore materialâ amount of customer data made public.
It said allegations â made in unnamed media publications â related to data breaches that occurred in 2011 or before in its NETELLER business, and in 2012 or before relating to Moneybookers, which later became Skrill and was acquired by Optimal in August.
Optimal said the data which is alleged to be available in the public domain came from those breaches, however the allegations do not specify the exact date the breaches occurred.
âThe company has commenced an investigation into this matter and the veracity of the allegations, and has informed both the Information Commissioner and the Financial Conduct Authority,â Optimal said in a statement.
The firm previously suffered two separate data breaches as a result of cyber-attacks in 2009 and 2010 and Moneybookers and NETELLER, which were reported to the businessâ regulator and the FSA.
At the time, the leaks were subject to an independent forensic investigation from major accounting firms, which found the NETELLER breach contained no evidence it was âmaterialâ.
The investigation into Moneybookers was unable to conclude if the breach was material, but Optimal said in both cases, to its knowledge, no customers suffered any financial loss.
Optimal said legal advice was taken at the time of the historical data breach and number of improvements were made to the respective information security platforms.
The firm said it âplaces the highest possible priorityâ on maintaining customer data integrity and safety, and would update the market on the findings of its latest investigation.
Optimalâs share price was down 9% to 316.36p at the time of writing.