LONDON - Thousands of British Airways customers have been blocked from online shopping to stop their bank accounts being raided after a major data breach.
Barclays, Santander and Capital One have ordered new cards for customers whose details were stolen by hackers.
Barclays and Capital One said existing cards can still be used in shops and restaurants but not online. Santander said existing cards can be used as normal until replacements arrive.
Other banks including NatWest, Lloyds, Nationwide, and HSBC will cancel compromised cards only if asked or if they spot suspicious activity.
Many people have already rushed to cancel their cards after an estimated 380 000 BA customers were told last week their details had been stolen.
The airline is facing a backlash over the cyber attack. Angry posts on Twitter accused it of presiding over a ‘security mess’. Others complained of not being able to get a response on help-lines.
Experts warn that tougher new data protection laws mean BA could be hit with a bill of up to £1billion (R19 billion) split between compensation and a fine by watchdogs.