The popular computer sales company, Dixons Carphone Warehouse, today admitted that the security password on its customer information database had proved too easy to guess for pesky hackers.

The firm’s spokesman, Will Gates, said “The chap who set the system up in 1994 set the password to “password” and, on reflection, and in this age of people deliberately trying to hack their way into places they have no business, it seems obvious that someone would guess correctly eventually. Perhaps we ought to have changed it to something like “password1” before now.”Ten million customers have had their personal details stolen by hackers. The extent of the information theft is on a scale thought never before achieved, even when a Government Minister has been implicated by leaving his laptop on the train.

Mr Gates announced that, “urgent steps are being taken to install Norton Security software, or something else we can easily pull off a shelf, which might make it trickier for hackers next time.”

Consumer groups are advising the firm’s affected customers to change their name, address, date of birth, current account provider, all passwords and favourite sports teams as a precautionary measure.

Disgruntled customer, Joe Archer, complained, “Changing my name and address is probably advisable, seeing as I’m a Millwall fan, but I refuse to change my allegiance to West Ham. I might consider Chelsea.”

Dixons Carphone Warehouse has issued a public apology, making it quite clear how sorry they are, but stressing that no compensation will be payable.