On August 18, 2024, Banham Poultry, a prominent poultry factory based in Norfolk, England, experienced a significant cyber attack that compromised sensitive personal data of its staff. The breach involved unauthorized remote access to the company’s systems, leading to the theft of crucial information such as National Insurance numbers, passport copies, and bank details. This incident has raised concerns among employees about the security of their personal information.
In response to the attack, Banham Poultry immediately shut down its systems and brought in external forensic specialists to investigate the breach. The company has assured its 600 employees that operations continue as usual and that their pay has not been affected. Banham Poultry has also implemented additional security measures and is advising staff on credit monitoring and fraud detection to mitigate potential risks.
Despite the breach, Banham Poultry has reported no known malicious use of the stolen data. The company stated that while there is a low risk of financial fraud, it cannot be completely ruled out. Employees have been informed that if the data appears on the dark web, it would be challenging for individuals to access it, further reducing the likelihood of misuse.
The incident has been reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which is now investigating the breach. The ICO has noted an increase in cyber attacks across various sectors, with ransomware incidents rising significantly. Banham Poultry, part of the 2 Sisters Food Group, has yet to confirm if ransomware was involved but continues to work closely with the ICO to address and resolve the issue.
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