Four million TalkTalk customers to get free upgrade

All customers – not just those whose personal or banking details were accessed – will be able to get an upgrade. TalkTalk hasn't yet released details on precisely what you can switch to despite us pushing for an answer, for example, whether any TV customer can upgrade to Sky Sports.

But these are the things you may be able to get for free, depending on what you have now:

• TV content including movies, kids', entertainment and sports channels.

• A mobile Sim with a monthly allowance of free texts, data and calls.

• Unlimited UK landline and mobile calls.

• A broadband health check by experienced engineers.

TalkTalk says it will email or write to all customers to let them know the full details from 1 December, and says the selection window will be open till the end of the year.

Improved security

TalkTalk also says it's created a new bundle of "online and telephone security features", designed to improve protection from scammers, malware and cold callers.

This will include web filter HomeSafe, anti-virus protection, caller display, last caller barring service and withheld caller reject. Customers will need to activate this bundle of services to use it. TalkTalk says details on how to do this will be in the email or letter you receive.

See our TalkTalk hack MSE news story for full help and information on the hack and what you need to do to prevent abuse of your account, and see our Cheap Broadband guide to get the best deal if you're thinking of switching.

If I get one of these deals, is there a catch?

TalkTalk says customers won't be asked to sign a new contract as part of the offer, but the upgrade will be offered subject to customers having an "on-going relationship with TalkTalk".

It also wouldn't tell us how long customers can use each of the upgrade offers for, what happens once the upgrade offer ends, and whether customers will be rolled onto a new paid-for deal. The provider just told us it "will be able to advise the customer on this from 1 December".

To be on the safe side, check this with TalkTalk before signing up and diarise any renewal date it gives you.

Four million TalkTalk customers to get free upgrade

'Doing what is right for our customers will ensure the best outcome for the company'

Dido Harding, chief executive of TalkTalk, says: "TalkTalk takes the security of customers' data extremely seriously and we are taking significant further steps to ensure our systems are protected, as well as writing to all our customers outlining what we are doing to keep their data safe.

"In recognition of the unavoidable uncertainty, and because we know that doing what is right for our customers will ensure the best possible outcome for the company over the longer term, we are today announcing the offer of a choice of free upgraded services to all our customers.

"TalkTalk is well established as the value-for-money provider in the fast growing quad play market [where customers sign up to broadband, TV, mobile and landline] and, notwithstanding the recent attack, remains well positioned to deliver strong and sustainable long term growth."