- Virgin Media O2 has enlisted an ethical hacker able to access passwords in just minutes to show how cybercriminals operate
- New campaign launched after 8 in 10 Brits (78%) admit to using the same or near identical passwords across multiple accounts online
- Watch the shocking moment full time bug bounty-hunter and ethical hacker Brandyn Murtagh shows Brits their passwords and personal data can be found in just minutes here
- Virgin Media O2 and ethical-hacker Brandyn share their top tips to get password secure this summer at news.virginmediao2.co.uk/security
Brits are being urged to get password secure this summer after an ethical hacker recruited by Virgin Media O2 has revealed how cybercriminals can find people’s passwords and personal data online, and use this to take over their accounts, in just minutes.
Virgin Media O2 asked people to volunteer for a security assessment in which they gave the ethical hacker their email address. With just this single piece of information, Brandyn was able to find people’s passwords – including those being used today – and personal data including their address, phone number and even places they’ve recently visited.
While most hackers use their cyber security skills illegally to cause harm or for their own personal gain, Brandyn Murtagh is a full-time bug bounty-hunter and ethical ‘White Hat’ hacker. He uses the very same techniques as cybercriminals, but for good, helping identify and fix security vulnerabilities to keep people, businesses and their data safe.
Using publicly available information from online data breaches which have been stitched together, Brandyn was able to stun participants by showing them their passwords before working with them to safeguard their accounts to protect against future harm. Watch the shocking full video here.
Brandyn is working with Virgin Media O2 as part of its ongoing ‘Swerve the Scammers’ campaign to shine a light on how cybercriminals operate to help keep people safe, in response to new research from the company.
It found that although more than half of Brits say they’re worried about being hacked (55%), 8 in 10 (78%) admit to using the same or near identical passwords on multiple online accounts. Including for their email (35%), social media accounts (31%) and for online banking (15%).
Having too many passwords to keep track of, a go-to one that’s easy to remember and frustration when it comes to typing long, complex passwords are the top reasons why people don’t make changes, despite knowing the risks.
More than a third of people are aware their information has been revealed in an online data breach, and 1 in 5 (22%) have even experienced their accounts being hacked already. However, a quarter of password recyclers confess if they were to open a new account today, they’d revert to old habits by using repeat passwords.
Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2 said: “We’re lifting a lid on how easy it is for cybercriminals with the right know-how to get their hands on your data and passwords online.
“At Virgin Media O2, we’re dedicated to keeping our customers safe from cybercriminals – blocking millions of fraudulent texts, malware and spyware, and flagging harmful websites and suspicious calls. But while Brandyn is one of the good guys, bad actors will stop at nothing to access your accounts. We all need to take action to stay safe online from fraud, including using strong unique passwords, especially for your email, phone, social media and online banking accounts.”
Ethical Hacker, Brandyn Murtagh, said: “It can take just three minutes for a hacker to find a password and put people’s accounts at risk, which is why I’ve teamed up with Virgin Media O2 to help get Brits password secure this summer.
“Having your account accessed isn’t just an inconvenience; it can be the start of a chain leading to someone racking up thousands of pounds of debt in your name. But the good news is that by following my tips, in just a few simple steps you can make big changes to your online security which make it much harder for someone to hack you.”
Hackers can get their hands on personal data in a whole host of different ways – whether through data breaches or social engineering through fake and malicious websites – to perpetrate fraud. Data gathered can sometimes be used to access people’s accounts directly or unlock further information down the line. Often access to one account can act as the first domino in the chain.
In the space of just one-year, Advanced Security – Virgin Media O2’s enhanced antivirus service – has blocked 115m unsafe and harmful websites, protected against 529k malware and spyware viruses and secured 4m banking and shopping sessions. Virgin Media O2 has also blocked more than 500 million fraudulent scam texts this year alone from ever reaching customers and flags 50 million suspicious scam and spam calls every single month.
To help get Brits password secure this summer, Brandyn has worked with Virgin Media O2 to provide expert advice and helpful tips and tricks for staying safe online. Find out more: news.virginmediao2.co.uk/security
press enquiries
press enquiries