Science & Technology · 5 Intermediate · September 3, 2026
Airport Company Hit by Hackers
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Vocabulary
hack/hæk/verb
to use a computer to get into someone else's system without permission
Criminals hack computer systems to steal information.
criminal/ˈkrɪm.ə.nəl/noun
a person who breaks the law
The criminals took personal data from the airport company.
stolen/ˈstoʊ.lən/adjective
taken illegally from someone
The stolen information was published online.
data/ˈdeɪ.tə/noun
information, often personal details stored on a computer
The company protects customer data very carefully.
fraud/frɔːd/noun
the crime of tricking someone to steal money or information
Criminals use stolen data to commit fraud.
warn/wɔːrn/verb
to tell someone about a danger or problem
The airport company will warn all affected customers.
Article
A large airport company in England suffered a serious computer attack last month. Bad actors stole personal information from millions of people. The stolen data is now public on the internet. This is very bad news for the company and for the people who used these airports.
Which Airports Were Affected?
The company owns three busy airports in England. Manchester Airport is one of the biggest. Stansted and East Midlands airports are also part of this company. Every day, thousands of people travel through these airports. Many of them had their personal information stolen.
What Information Was Taken?
Criminals took details about 8.7 million people. This includes names, email addresses, and phone numbers. The hackers may have also stolen dates of birth and travel information. This kind of data is valuable to bad actors who want to steal money or commit fraud.
What Happened?
The airport company discovered the hack one month ago. They are now working to understand how the criminals got inside their computer systems. The company is telling people that the data was stolen. They want to warn airport customers and employees about possible dangers.
What Comes Next?
The company promised to help people whose information was stolen. They may offer free protection services. The airport company is also working with police and security experts. Their goal is to stop future attacks and keep people safe.
Discussion Questions
Have you ever traveled through Manchester, Stansted, or East Midlands airports? If so, how do you feel about this hack?
What types of personal information do you think are most dangerous if stolen by criminals?
What should large companies do to protect customer information?
How can people protect themselves if their data has been stolen?
Do you think the airport company should pay money to help the people affected by this hack?