Equifax told to inform Britons whether they are at risk after data breach

US-based credit ratings firm says records of UK citizens were among those unlawfully accessed during cyber-attack in July

Equifax, the US credit ratings firm victim to an unlawful breach of security, has been told to inform British residents "at the earliest opportunity" if their personal information has been put at risk, the Information Commissioner said on Friday.

Equifax says it holds details on over 44 million Britons, and said that records of UK and Canadians citizens were among the unlawfully accessed confidential data for 143 million Americans.