Customers who lose data from their debit and credit cards to hackers are moving their business elsewhere, rather than risk doing business with companies that have been hit by cyber-criminals.

This was the result of a study undertaken by security firm Secerno, and the majority of those questioned said that they would stop spending in shops and in websites regularly or publicly hit by criminal hackers. Almost 95% said they were worried about data being stolen and used by thieves.

The survey discovered that 14% of the 1,243 people questioned said that they been the victim of data theft, be it by cyber-thieves stealing information from online retailers or penetrating company networks to get hold of personal details.

In December last year, US discount retailer TJX, which owns TK Maxx and UK store TK Maxx, was invaded by hackers who got away with the details of more than 45 million credit cards, despite claims that they were out of date.

One of these people was Christine Marsh, 37, of London. “I will never, ever use TK Maxx again after what happened,” she said. “I just would not feel safe giving them any more of my personal details, no matter how they try to reassure me.”

Paul Davie, chief executive of Secerno, said: “This is not just happening occasionally, these guys are scoring big. The public perception is of a kid in a bedroom doing this for fun, but these kids have grown up.”