Posted on

The Internet Thinks Joe Exotic and Miley Cyrus Have the Same Hairstyle

Mullet madness! The Internet has officially picked up on the fact that Miley Cyrus and the infamous Joe Exotic have a similar hairstyle.

The Best Celebrity Hair Transformations of 2020: Miley Cyrus, Barbie Ferreira, Jada Pinkett Smith and More!

Ever since Netflix’s Tiger King was released on Friday, March 20, the docuseries has been a hot topic of conversation. The now-incarcerated Joe Exotic has quickly become a subject of fascination for viewers, due to his wild personality, concerning decision-making skills and most importantly: his bleach-blonde mullet. The good people of the Internet have already gown wild over John Finlay’s new teeth.

‘Tiger King’ Stars Joe Exotic, Carole Baskin, More: Where Are They Now?

But back to Joe Exotic’s, um, exotic ‘do. The former G.W. Zoo owner’s hairstyle features bangs that fall in the middle of his forehead in choppy pieces. Interestingly enough, social media’s been comparing his unforgettable look to that of the stylish Cyrus.

The 27-year-old’s been extra active on social media lately thanks to her new daily Instagram Live talk show series, Bright Minded. The singer’s been rocking casual-cool outfits like tank tops and sporty leggings that pair perfectly with her very own “modern mullet” hairstyle.

During Cyrus’ recent IG Lives, hundreds of people have taken to social media to compare her hair to the felon’s. “Why Miley Cyrus look like Joe Exotic?” wrote one user. Another cracked a joke and said, “Are we absolutely sure that Miley Cyrus isn’t Joe Exotic’s daughter? The people have a right to know.”

“I’m telling you: Miley Cyrus based her mullet off of Joe Exotic’s,” claimed a third Twitter user.

Cyrus hasn’t addressed the comments directly, however, she has compared her style and color to Joe Exotic’s! On Monday, March 30, she shared a meme of the tiger lover’s mugshot on her Instagram Story. The text said: “FaceTiming my hairdresser to ask how I fix the cut and color I gave myself.”

As a text overlay, she wrote, “Wayyyy too real. Cyrus clearly isn’t denying that her and Joe Exotic do, in fact, share some similarities when it comes to their hair.

The “Slide Away” singer debuted her statement-making mullet in January, brought to life by celebrity stylist and namesake brand founder Sally Hershberger.

“Miley wanted to go more punk,” the stylist told E News! at the start of the year. “She wanted something edgy. We went with a modern mullet that she can wear sleek, but also wavy and messy.”

The Best Celebrity Hair Transformations of 2019 — Including Lady Gaga, Hilary Duff, Charlize Theron and More!

Before her appointment with Hershberger, Cyrus’ last cut was on her birthday, courtesy of her mom, Tish. On November 23, 2019, the mom of five used a pair of craft scissors to cut about two inches off of her daughter’s hair.

Tish shared a video of the experience on IG. In the accompanying caption, she wrote, “Giving @mileycyrus a little B-day haircut!! #staytuned #itsgood.”

Listen on Spotify to Get Tressed With Us to get the details of every hair love affair in Hollywood, from the hits and misses on the red carpet to your favorite celebrities’ street style ‘dos (and don’ts!)

For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on YouTube!

Source: Read Full Article

Posted on

P40 Pro revealed: Huawei’s flagship has an S20-beating camera but a glaring software issue

Huawei has just lifted the lid on its all-new P40 range and fans now have a trio of phones to get excited about. Along with the standard P40, there’s also a flagship P40 Pro and ultra-premium P40 Pro+ which gets some added extras you won’t find on its cheaper siblings including a white ceramic case which should provide better resistance against scuffs and scratches.

Perhaps the most exciting feature to grace the top-end Pro+ is a new Leica camera system which Huawei boasts is the world’s first SuperZoom Array.

While the P40 Pro gets a quad system with a single telephoto (5X optical) lens, the Pro+ offers five lenses with two optical telephoto sensors (10X and 3X) which work together to deliver a maxed out zoom of 100x.

This is similar to that found on the Galaxy S20 Ultra although Huawei says it’s using clever AI to improve the stability of these long-range shots.

Other features coming to Huawei’s new camera include a much larger sensor which should boost images with improved light intake, higher dynamic range and lower noise.

There’s even a claim from the Chinese firm that its sensor lets in 200 percent light than Apple’s iPhone 11 Pro Max.

Huawei also says low light images will look much better thanks to a faster focus plus there’s the usual AI tricks which can work out what you are taking images of for improved results.

In fact, this new camera can now identify over 18 scenes to ensure you get the best shot every time.

There’s also some clever extras which can remove strangers who might have wandered into the back of your photos and reflections when taking images from behind glass.

If video is your speciality then the new 4K-capable cameras also include improved movie-making with super steady technology even working on long-range footage.

This should mean even when you’re zooming in from far away the image will look clearer and less shaky than what was capable on the P30 Pro.

But while Huawei has made some huge improvements to its cameras, it’s also making the display a huge focus of the new P40 series, too.

Both the P40 Pro and P40 Pro+ get a 6.58-inch quad-curve “Overflow Display” which, as the name suggests, bends around the edges of the phone to create an almost bezel-free appearance – the P40 gets a more standard 6.1-inch flat screen.

Huawei has also now included a 90Hz refresh rate which it claims offers the best balance of performance and battery life.

90Hz isn’t quite up to snuff with the Galaxy S20 series or the Oppo Find X2 Pro that both boast 120Hz panels. But Huawei is confident the P40 can match its rivals when it comes to screen quality. We’ll be the judge of that…

Under the hood, there’s Huawei’s latest Kirin 990 chipset which, along with being more powerful, also brings 5G data speeds to the P-series for the first time. That means you’ll be able to access blisteringly fast downloads when away from your fixed-line broadband.

Other extras include a 4,200mAh battery, dual-lens selfie camera, WiFi 6 download speeds and 40W wireless charging which, for reference, is faster than many rivals’ wired charging speeds.

Huawei has also increased the size and speed of its embedded fingerprint scanner which, it says, finally offers the same experience found on the older physical scanners that have been phased out of premium flagships in the last couple years.

Of course, despite all these amazing features and top-notch specs, there is one glaring issue with the P40 Pro.

That’s because there’s still no access to the Google suite of apps including the Play Store.

In a bid to convince consumers this isn’t a big deal, Huawei is making a huge song and dance about its own app store called the AppGallery.

The range of applications has been slowly growing on this Play Store rival with services such as TikTok and Snapchat now readily available.

However, if you want services like WhatsApp or Facebook, these have to be installed manually via the official websites which isn’t ideal and there’s still no access to staple Android apps such as Google Maps, Gmail or Google Photos which could be a huge turn-off.

One feature Huawei is keen to point out is its Phone Clone service which transfers all apps from your old Android phone to the new P40 Pro.

How well this works in real life remains to be seen but we’ll bring you more news on this in our upcoming review.

If none of that has put you off then the P40 range will be on sale soon with pricing expected later.

The P40 comes in three glossy finishes called Ice White, Black and Deep Sea Blue plus there’s new matt coatings called Silver Frost and Blush Gold

If you want the Pro+ then this arrives in black and a fancy ceramic white.

Source: Read Full Article

Posted on

Three Mobile WARNING: If you get this ’email from Three’ please DON’T open it

Three Mobile users should be on high alert for a convincing email scam that claims to be from the UK mobile network. According to the team at the Cofense Phishing Defence Center (PDC), this new attack is designed to fool unsuspecting customers into handing over names and even bank details.

The message, which has begun dropping into inboxes across the UK, is designed to look like it has been sent from an official Three account. Once opened, the message warns that the mobile network is struggling to process a payment, stating: “Your latest bill payment could not be processed by your bank. Access your mobile service will be suspended. Download the attachment form to amend your billing information.”

The attached file then takes users to a fake website where it then requests vital information such as login credentials, personal information and credit card details.

PDC says the source code indicates this is a clone of actual Three html code, re-appropriated for malicious purposes; for instance, styling elements are pulled from Three website – making them much more convincing than some other scam campaigns. Additionally, all the options in 3GUK direct users to the legitimate relevant Three page so that, for example, if one clicks on “iPhone 11” under the Popular Phones section at the bottom, the end user is redirected to the real Three iPhone 11 page.

These are clever tactics from the scammers to try and make this look as real as possible.

READ MORE

  • EE, Three, Vodafone and O2 are giving you 4G on the tube

Those who are tricked could end up handing over vital information which could lead to serious financial losses. So this threat is well worth taking note of.

If you’re worried about any scams it’s worth following this advice from Three who say they will never email customers requesting information such as user names, passwords or bank details.

Top tips to avoid getting scammed

• Never give out any passwords to anyone, over the phone, in person, online or via email.

• Your bank, network provider and many other companies that handle your money will usually ask you to enter select characters of a password or login number. If you’re asked for your full password or login number by one of these companies, it’s almost certainly a phishing scam, and you should contact your bank or network provider immediately.

• Never click on links in emails or texts that ask you to sign in to your account. Close the email and go directly to the company’s website.

• Install good virus protection on your personal computer. You can buy trusted anti-virus software from companies like McAfee and Norton, or you can download free software from well-respected places, such as Avast and Kaspersky. Make sure you research the software you choose.

• Make sure you’re visiting secure websites. You can look for the padlock icon in the address bar to check if a website is secure.

• Remember, grammar and spelling are important to respectable companies like your internet or network provider and your bank, so if something reads really badly, it’s probably a scam.

• Your bank, phone provider and money management companies know you. They’ll address you by name.

• If you’re worried about the security of your personal details, you can find out more on our Fraud and Security page. Keep your details protected, stay safe online, and stay connected.

Source: Read Full Article

Posted on

LG joins Samsung with a blockbuster upgrade to your 4K TV

Samsung announced last week that it was upgrading some of its TVs giving customers access the new Disney+ service straight from their home screens. Now LG is joining the streaming party with a similar update for some of its latest televisions.

The Korean technology firm has just revealed the changes, which are now available in U.K., Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria, mean that LG customers can access all of the content from Disney straight from their smart TVs.

If you own a compatible set then you can now simply click on the Disney+ icon on LG Home Launcher to start watching.

LG says it has integrated this service into the webOS platform to offer a smooth and seamless experience.

“The expansion of Disney+ in Europe provides a new and exciting opportunity for LG customers residing in the newly added nations,” said Lee Sang-woo, senior vice president of corporate business strategy and content service business at the LG Home Entertainment Company. “Spearheaded by its award-winning OLED TVs, LG is now ready to deliver even more of the best content around on some of the most awarded TVs on the market.”

READ MORE

  • Sky TV viewers who watch Disney+ on their box are getting a bad deal

Disney+ launched yesterday in the UK and offers hundreds of movies and TV shows for a £5.99 monthly fee.

This service features action from the likes of Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars plus there’s s swathe of extra content via National Geographic.

You’ll also find some shows that are exclusive to Disney+ including Star Wars: The Mandalorian, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, and The World according to Jeff Goldblum.

There’s also movies from Disney, Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar with some content beamed in full 4K at no extra costs and four people can binge at once.

Here are some of the movies that will be available from this Tuesday on Disney+.

ALADDIN (2019) • BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (2017) • THE JUNGLE BOOK 2 • MARY POPPINS RETURNS • MULAN II (2005) • PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL • TANGLED (2010) • CARS • COCO • RATATOUILLE • FINDING NEMO • TOY STORY 4 • WALL-E • AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR • AVENGERS: ENDGAME • ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY • SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY • STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE

Source: Read Full Article

Posted on

Disney+ follows Netflix, Sky TV and introduces drastic changes ahead of UK launch today

Disney+ has launched in the UK today, March 24, 2020. But ahead of the launch, the Netflix rival from the House of Mouse has announced some extraordinary new measures to lower the pressure it could exert on broadband bandwidth across the country.

The unprecedented steps follow similar measures introduced by Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and Apple TV+, which have all pledged to drop streaming quality in a bid to alleviate some of the strain on the broadband infrastructure as millions work from home and self isolate to try and stop the spread of the novel coronavirus and flatten the curve of the virus to buy NHS workers and vaccine researchers more time.

Netflix has promised to cut its pressure on bandwidth by 25 percent. The decision was made following a request from the EU Commissioner and CEO Reed Hastings after politicians raised concerns about the ability for broadband connections to cope with the increased connections.

Although some experts had predicted blackouts across the UK as millions were told to social distance themselves from others and bars, restaurants, theatres, gyms, leisure centres and other venues were shuttered, that has yet to happen. However, a number of software solutions to improve working from home – like Microsoft Teams – have struggled with the increased demand over the last week or so.

Unlike Netflix, Disney+ does not charge an additional fee to stream in Ultra HD 4K quality.

READ MORE
Is your home ready to access Disney+?

Instead, the shows and movies will use the pixel-packed quality image whenever the bandwidth is available. Like Netflix, the company has pledged to drop its bandwidth allocation by around 25 percent to relieve pressure on UK Internet Service Providers (ISPs) systems.

“Disney will lower our overall bandwidth utilisation by at least 25 percent in all of the markets launching Disney Plus on March 24th,” Kevin Mayer, Disney direct-to-consumer division head, confirmed in a statement about the streaming cuts.

For those who don’t know, Disney+ will be home to a number of popular properties from its back catalogue, including every entry in its record-breaking Marvel Cinematic Universe, every episode of The Simpsons, as well as classic animated films and their live-action remakes, like The Lion King.

Disney+ represents a colossal push into the streaming market from the company that taps into the breadth of Disney’s media empire. For example, the video on-demand app will also allow access to the likes of National Geographic shows and movies, like the Academy Award-winning Free Solo, and films from Pixar Studios, which is owned by Disney.

But while those in the UK might not be able to enjoy the latest Marvel Movies in the most eye-watering quality, Disney has shelved the launch of Disney+ entirely in France at the request of the French government. Disney had planned to launch the service in France with the majority of European countries today, March 24. However, this has now been delayed until the week of April 7th, according to Disney.

That’s two weeks after it was initially set. Broadband strain continues to be a serious concern for countries across the globe. According to US television and internet analytics firm, Nielsen, when people stay home it can “lead to almost a 60 percent increase in the amount of content we watch in some cases”.

Meanwhile, Sky TV has enabled free access to Sky Go Extra to enable up to three screens to be used to watch Sky TV in busy households – in order to prevent fights over the living room television while everyone is cooped-up inside over the coming weeks. It has also allowed customers free calls to UK landlines until the end of April. Visiting any NHS resources will not count towards a Sky Mobile customers’ data usage, it has confirmed.

Disney+ is available on a wide range of devices at launch, including Samsung Smart TVs, video game consoles, iPhone, Android phones, iPad and other tablets, Sky Q boxes, and Amazon Fire TV streaming sticks, to name a few.

Source: Read Full Article

Posted on

Millions of Android devices can easily be hacked. Are YOU at risk?

Android users have been issued a stark new warning by researchers. According to new data, tens of millions of Android-powered tablets have gone years without any security updates – leaving them vulnerable to malware and online attacks from hackers. In many instances, this isn’t the fault of the tablet owner not keeping up with the latest software updates for their device, both Google (which develops the Android operating system) and the hardware manufacturer have pulled support for the device.

As first reported by the clever folks over at TechRadar, the statistics from analytics firm NetMarketShare show that 13 percent of all Android-powered tablets – one in every eight – still run Android 4.4 KitKat.

That operating system is almost seven-years-old. The last time Android 4.4 received a security patch was back in October 2017 when Google fixed four vulnerabilities, two of which were rated as “critical”. But since then, any further vulnerabilities or bugs have been left unpatched by Google. As a result, these remain wide-open to enterprising hackers looking to steal sensitive information.

Other ageing versions of Android are also well-represented on tablets and other hardware. Other minor version increases from Android 4.0 to Android 4.3 account for 3 percent of all tablets worldwide, while Android Lollipop tablets devices make up almost 10 percent of users – making it the second most popular version of Android.

READ MORE
Google Pixel 4a leak reveals one of the most important details

Popular tablet models powered by Android KitKat include Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 4, Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 LTE, Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet, Samsung Google Nexus 10, and the first-generation Nvidia Shield tablet.

If you’re still happily running one of these models – or any other tablet that’s stranded with an out-of-support version of Android – you’d do well to install an anti-virus application. Although there’s no fix for the vulnerabilities in the operating system, at least these applications will be able to keep an eye out for any malware, viruses, or other nasties taking advantage of the ageing software on your hardware.

And it’s not just tablet owners who need to be concerned.

Up to a billion smartphones still run on Android version 6.x or older – leaving these unpatched handsets at risk of being infected with malware.

The news comes as research firm RiskIQ published its annual Mobile Threat Highlights report which revealed the biggest threats which have faced Android users over the last 12 months, highlighting problems like adware which fills devices with unwanted adverts, or fleeceware that leaves phone owners with a huge bill for services that they never wanted.

Along with revealing the worst threats, RiskIQ has also released advice on how to avoid being targeted by criminals.

READ MORE

  • Your Windows 10 PC and MacBook has a serious flaw that cannot be fixed

In its report, the firm said: “Users should be discerning and sceptical when downloading anything and have passive protection such as legitimate antivirus software along with regular backups.

“Luckily, some of these malicious lookalike apps are easy to spot. One potential giveaway is excessive permissions, where an app requests permissions that go beyond those required for its stated functionality. Another is a suspicious developer name, especially if it does not match the developer name associated with other apps from the same organisation.

“User reviews and number of downloads, where present, also help to give some level of reassurance that the app is legitimate. If you find you have installed an app that spams you with links or tries to force downloads — or it turns out to be a lookalike or disappears after installation or one use—having regular, recent backups lets you wipe the phone and restore it to a safe state.”

Source: Read Full Article

Posted on

Lloyds Halifax DOWN: Online banking not working in latest outage

Are you having trouble managing your money online with Lloyds and Halifax? Well, you might not be alone. Downdetector has registered over 1,300 reports and 800 reports from Halifax and Lloyds respectively claiming the services from each are not working as normal. That said, Express.co.uk has been unable to find Halifax and Lloyds customers complaining of an outage on social media. Additionally, the server status pages of both banks claim everything is working as normal. 

Each bank claims its online banking, mobile app, ATMS, debit cards and credit cards are not suffering from any issues.

Of course, Express.co.uk will be updating this page with the latest from Lloyds and Halifax.

Source: Read Full Article

Posted on

Windows 10 update will make your PC a little less smart

With its next Windows 10 update, Microsoft is having a bit of a spring-clean. Rather than throw a bucketload of new features at its hugely-successful operating system, the Redmond-based company is refining a number of existing features. We already know that Microsoft will de-emphasise its refreshing Live Tiles and now it seems the next Windows 10 update will scale back the role of talkative assistant Cortana.

Instead of trying to compete with the likes of Alexa and Google Assistant – AI-powered assistants that can control your smart lighting, interact with your Smart TV, play music from a home speaker, and more – Microsoft is scaling back Cortana to become more of a productivity tool inside Windows 10.

As reported by Ars Technica, the newly pared-back Cortana will likely arrive in time for the launch of Windows 10 20H1, which is the first of two major operating system upgrades that are expected to come to Windows 10 users this year. Microsoft has yet to announce when this’ll roll out worldwide, but if the company follows the same release pattern as previous years, we’d expect to see it land with users in the next few months.

READ MORE
Microsoft forced to pull catastrophic new Windows 10 update as it causes havoc on PCs

In a blog post confirming the change to Cortana, corporate vice president of Cortana Andrew Shuman explained the decision to narrow the focus of the voice activated-assistant. From the next update, Cortana in Windows 10 will focus on search and productivity – similar to the Spotlight feature on macOS.

“The new Cortana experience in Windows 10 features a chat-based UI that gives you the ability to interact with Cortana using your voice or the keyboard,” Cortana VP Andrew Shuman detailed in the blog. “For English (United States) users, Cortana will assist you in better managing your schedule and tasks by staying on top of your calendar and focusing on what matters with meeting insights. You can speak or type requests to find people or files, or quickly create or query emails.

“You can also easily check your calendar, set a reminder, or add to your lists in Microsoft To Do.”

READ MORE

  • Delete this Windows 10 update NOW, Microsoft issues fresh warning

While these features sound interesting, US-based users will be the first to get their hands on them …so Windows 10 users in the UK could have a bit of a wait.

And what about users who rely on Cortana to switch on the lights in their house?

Thankfully, Microsoft isn’t leaving them in the dark – for the time being. The company has confirmed to ZDnet that users will still be able to manage smart home devices through the AI-powered assistant using the dedicated iOS and Android Cortana apps for the time being.

When it comes to Microsoft’s longterm plans for the likes of the Cortana-powered Invoke smart speaker from luxury audio brand Harman Kardon, only time will tell.

But if you’re using the Microsoft-built assistant as the only way to turn on the lights, find out the latest weather, and get takeaways delivered …it might be worth looking into switching to Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri.

Source: Read Full Article

Posted on

NOW TV viewers will be able to stream Disney+ movies and shows …but there’s a catch

NOW TV viewers will soon be able to enjoy shows and movies from the Disney+ subscription service on their existing hardware. The Sky-owned service has managed to strike a deal with the House of Mouse to include both the traditional Sky Q satellite service as well as the contract-free NOW TV streaming option. However, there is a catch.

While Sky Q customers will be able to tune in to a raft of exclusive Disney+ shows as soon as the service launches in the UK on March 24 those on NOW TV could face a much longer wait. Parent company Sky hasn’t revealed when customers who subscribe to its NOW TV side project will be able to access Disney+ shows like The Mandalorian, High School Musical: The Musical: The Show, and The World According To Jeff Goldblum.

The only hint is that NOW TV support will arrive “in the coming months” …so hopefully in time for The Mandalorian season two, which is due to land in October 2020?

There’s no word on how the Disney+ will work on Sky Q, but it seems likely Sky will treat the subscription service in the same way that it currently manages Netflix. The video on-demand service has its own app, but is also deeply integrated into the core search functionality – so you’ll be able to see when a title is available on the Sky Store and as part of your Netflix subscription.

READ MORE
If you get this email from Sky TV …you aren’t going to like it one bit

Whether the Netflix-style integration also extends to adding Disney+ directly to your monthly Sky bill remains to be seen. On NOW TV, we’d imagine the House of Mouse’s streaming catalogue will be a separate contract-free “Pass” that you can buy at any time to get a month of viewing. Sky currently offers its own Sky Cinema, Sky Sports and Entertainment TV channels on this basis. Reality TV streaming service Hayu is also available on NOW TV.

Disney is currently trying to drum-up subscribers for its Netflix rival by offering a £10 discount on annual subscriptions. From today to March 23, Disney fans will be able to sign-up for a year of the streaming service for £49.99 …but whether this will work on your Sky Q or NOW TV boxes remains to be seen.

Clearly, there are a number of questions still lingering. But those with Sky or NOW TV kit in the house will be pleased to learn they won’t have to free-up another HDMI plug around the back of the telly for a new set-top box dedicated to Disney+.

READ MORE

  • WhatsApp dark mode is out now on iPhone and Android

Speaking about the news Jeremy Darroch, Group Chief Executive, Sky, said: “We’ve built a strong partnership with Disney over three decades and we’re pleased that our customers in the UK and Ireland can continue to enjoy their world-class content – all in one place on Sky Q. This is a great start to what is set to be another stellar year for Sky – in 2020 we’ll launch new channels and genres, start building Sky Studios Elstree and we’ve got brilliant new and returning originals coming too.”

Going forward, Disney+ will be the on-demand home of new films and shows from the House Of Mouse. So, don’t expect Black Widow or any of the upcoming slate of Marvel films to launch on Netflix or Prime Video over Disney+ anytime soon.

Disney+ will be available on a wide range of devices at launch, including Samsung Smart TVs, video game consoles, iPhone, Android, and tablets. On March 24, Disney+ will launch in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, and Switzerland. Additional European markets, including Belgium, the Nordics, and Portugal, will follow sometime in summer 2020.

Source: Read Full Article

Posted on

Virgin Media shock as 900,000 customers at risk after major security blunder

Virgin Media has revealed that almost one million customers could be at risk after a database containing personal details was left unsecured for 10 months. The incident occurred due to a member of staff not following the correct procedures. This meant that personal details such as name, home address, email and even date of birth were all easily accessible.

The broadband and TV firm said it was alerted to the blunder by an independent security researcher.

Most of those affected are customers who have television or fixed-line phones with the company.

Virgin Media has now begun emailing all of those affected with a message saying: “We are very sorry to have to inform you that we recently became aware that some of your personal information, stored on one of our databases has been accessed without permission.

“Our investigation is ongoing but we currently understand that the database was accessible from at least 19 April 2019 and that the information has been recently accessed.

“We take our responsibility to protect your personal information seriously. We know what happened, why it happened and as soon as we became aware we immediately shut down access to the database and launched a full independent forensic investigation. We have also informed the Information Commissioner’s Office.”

READ MORE

  • Virgin Media is raising prices AGAIN and customers aren’t happy

It’s worth noting that the database didn’t contain any passwords or bank details but there is still some concern that the data could give cyber criminals the chance to target users with phishing campaigns.

Virgin is now advising all those affected to be on alert with the firm advising the, given the nature of the information involved, there is a risk you might be targeted for phishing attempts, fraud or nuisance marketing communications.

Speaking about the security lapse, Lutz Schüler, chief executive of Virgin Media said: “We recently became aware that one of our marketing databases was incorrectly configured which allowed unauthorised access. We immediately solved the issue by shutting down access.”

“Protecting our customers’ data is a top priority and we sincerely apologise,” he said.

“Based upon our investigation, Virgin Media does believe that the database was accessed on at least one occasion but we do not know the extent of the access or if any information was actually used,”

And Adam French, Which? Consumer Rights Expert, added: “This data breach has exposed the data of almost a million Virgin Media customers and whilst no financial details or passwords were included, those customers are likely to be worried. It is vital that Virgin Media continues to provide clear information on what has happened.

“For anyone concerned they could be affected – it’s good practice to update your password after a data breach. Also, be wary of emails regarding the breach, as scammers may try and take advantage of it.”

Source: Read Full Article