UPDATE 1-EasyJet hit by cyber attack, hackers access 9 mln customers' details

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LONDON, May 19 (Reuters) - British budget airline easyJet
said on Tuesday hackers had accessed the email and
travel details of around 9 million customers, and the credit
card details of more than 2,000 of them, in a "highly
sophisticated" attack.

The airline, which has grounded most of its flights due to
the COVID-19 pandemic and is locked in a long-running battle
with its founder and biggest shareholder, said it did not look
like any personal information had been misused.

"We take issues of security extremely seriously and continue
to invest to further enhance our security environment," it said
in a statement to the stock exchange.

The company said it had engaged leading forensic experts to
investigate the issue. It has also notified the Information
Commissioner's Office and the National Cyber Security Centre.

Hackers have stepped up their efforts to target major
companies and the data they hold on customers. British Airways
was hit in 2018 with the theft of credit card details of
hundreds of thousands of its customers, while Cathay Pacific was
also hit.

(Reporting by Kate Holton; editing by Michael Holden/Guy
Faulconbridge)