A massive glitch exposed sensitive data on the Lloyds, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland banking apps this morning, allowing users to view other people’s accounts. For approximately 20 minutes, customers logging into their apps saw strangers’ payments, deposits, and even benefit payments from the Department for Work and Pensions.
One horrified user said, “It was terrifying. I saw transactions from a pub in Newcastle and personal info I shouldn’t have – including National Insurance numbers.”
Lloyds Banking Group, which owns all three banks, quickly admitted the breach and launched an investigation. A spokesperson said: “We’re sorry that some customers experienced an issue viewing transactions in the app for a short time this morning. The issue was quickly resolved and we’re looking into what happened.”
Outage tracker DownDetector.com showed a surge of complaints between 10am and 11am, following earlier problems from 7am to 9am. Halifax and Bank of Scotland apps also faced similar outages.
The exact number of affected users remains unknown. Highly sensitive data such as banking history and National Insurance numbers were exposed. Social media erupted with demands for hefty fines and tougher IT security regulations.
One enraged user commented, “It’s not just a ‘glitch’—it’s gross negligence. Banks must be fined until they take security seriously.”
Although banks insist accounts remain secure, experts advise customers to stay vigilant. It is recommended to check bank statements carefully and report any suspicious activity immediately.
Originally published by UKNIP.
