Companies House glitch puts millions at risk of identity theft

Companies House has exposed 5 million business owners to identity theft through a glitch that enabled members of the public to view and change directors’ personal details.

- Catherine Neilan Whitehall Editor

A bug on the database, on which any corporation active in the UK must register, had been allowing criminals to alter details of individuals and businesses simply by entering a company number and then pressing the “back” button on their web browser twice. After that point, the system allowed users to change names and addresses, and file fake accounts.