HSBC data seriously compromised
(15 March 2010 – Europe) Global banking giant HSBC has admitted that the details of 24,000 customers of the bank’s Swiss unit may have been leaked in a major security breach.
In a statement, HSBC’s Swiss private bank admitted that the data of around 15,000 current clients and an additional 9000 customers who have since left the bank, were stolen by a former information technology employee about three years ago.
Shortly after the case first came to light in France in December, HSBC said that to its knowledge the stolen data concerned fewer than 10 clients.
Acting on a Swiss warrant over the theft, French authorities recovered the data from former computer specialist Herve Falciani.
Alexandre Zeller, chief executive of the bank’s Swiss unit, told reporters that HSBC deeply regrets this situation and unreservedly apologises to its clients for this threat to their privacy.
Mr Zeller also said that the bank has received reassurances from French authorities that the information will not be used ‘inappropriately’.
The bank does not believe that the stolen data has or will allow any third party to access any client account, the HSBC statement said.
The Swiss government has said that it will draft a new law that bans officals from co-operating with foreign countries that have received stolen private account details, as the the willingness of foreign tax authorities to pay for stolen information of Swiss accounts is a tense spot for diplomats.
Shortly after the case first came to light in France in December, HSBC said that to its knowledge the stolen data concerned fewer than 10 clients.
Acting on a Swiss warrant over the theft, French authorities recovered the data from former computer specialist Herve Falciani.
Alexandre Zeller, chief executive of the bank’s Swiss unit, told reporters that HSBC deeply regrets this situation and unreservedly apologises to its clients for this threat to their privacy.
Mr Zeller also said that the bank has received reassurances from French authorities that the information will not be used ‘inappropriately’.
The bank does not believe that the stolen data has or will allow any third party to access any client account, the HSBC statement said.
The Swiss government has said that it will draft a new law that bans officals from co-operating with foreign countries that have received stolen private account details, as the the willingness of foreign tax authorities to pay for stolen information of Swiss accounts is a tense spot for diplomats.
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