CATHAY PACIFIC DATA BREACH – WORSE THAN BRITISH AIRWAYS…

POST DEREK1948

Having just read about a data breach at Cathay Pacific (CX) affecting nine million plus people that happened in March, I wonder what the comments will be about this, compared to the vitriol hurled at British Airways (BA)? Just asking?

➜ STEVE SCOOTS

According to CX it was over nine million passport numbers and Hong Kong identity card numbers, but credit card details were just a few hundred expired ones. I don’t see this in the same light as British Airways – anyone who travels is always giving out passport details every time they check in to a hotel, so chances are all our passport details are out there somewhere.

➜ IAN FROM HKG

The data accessed was “passenger name; nationality; date of birth; phone no; email address; passport no; identity card no; FFP membership no; customer service remarks and historical travel information”.

That is one hell of a lot of information and seems more than enough to indulge in some comprehensive identify theft. The worst bit? This data was accessed in March! Seven months ago! And they’re only telling people about it now!

CX can hardly fail to be aware that responsible companies disclose this sort of issue promptly, and clearly made a decision not to – one can only wonder why, and what triggered it now.