Latest news with #cybercriminal
CNET
09-07-2025
- Business
- CNET
Qantas Contacted by Hackers Responsible for Data Breach Affecting Millions of Customers
Qantas disclosed a cybersecurity incident on July 2 potentially affecting 6 million has been contacted by a cyber criminal claiming responsibility for the data breach that affected 6 million customers. A company spokesperson confirmed Qantas is working to validate this, adding that since it's a criminal matter, "we won't be commenting any further on the detail of the contact." There's also no evidence that any of the stolen information has been released, the company said in an email. Bad actors gained access to customers' names, email addresses, phone numbers, birthdates and frequent flyer numbers via a third-party platform used by a Qantas call center. In the wrong hands, this data could lead to phishing attacks and eventually identity theft or fraud. Credit card details, personal financial information and passport details are not held in the breached system, according to Qantas. "We sincerely apologise to our customers and we recognise the uncertainty this will cause." CEO Vanessa Hudson said in a statement. "We are contacting our customers today and our focus is on providing them with the necessary support." Qantas is Australia's largest airline, with frequent international flights serving Europe, Asia and the US. Qantas is working with local Australian authorities and specialized cybersecurity experts to investigate the incident detected on June 30. Customers can contact Qantas dedicated support line on 1800-971-541 or +61 2 8028 0534. Qantas did not immediately respond to CNET's request for comment. What if I was affected by this breach? Qantas is continuing to investigate the full impact of this breach, though it says it expects the amount of data stolen to be "significant." For now, we know that some personal information, including names, email addresses and phone numbers have been stolen. Because of this, you should be wary of phishing attacks aimed at tricking you into coughing up more of your data or scamming you out of your money. As Qantas contacts impacted customers, it may offer free identity theft and credit monitoring tools. My advice is to take advantage of this. Coverage tends to last for 12 months, and offers a good way to keep a pulse on your identity online. You can also sign up for identity theft protection on your own after the offer expires. In the meantime, look over your credit reports for signs of identity theft, including suspicious accounts you did not open.
RNZ News
07-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Qantas 'contacted by potential cybercriminal' after attack on data of up to 6 million customers
Qantas says it takes matters of cybersecurity "incredibly seriously". Photo: AFP Qantas says it has been contacted by "a potential cybercriminal" less than a week after revealing a "significant" breach and theft of data on up to 6 million of its customers from its records during a cyber attack. The airline said in a statement on Monday that it is working to verify the legitimacy of the contact and have contacted the Australian Federal Police (AFP). It has not confirmed the nature of the contact or whether a ransom was sought. A spokesperson for the AFP told the ABC that it was investigating the contact. "The airline has been highly engaged in assisting authorities and the AFP with investigating this incident," a statement said. The update comes after the airline detected unusual activity on a third-party platform used by a Qantas contact centre. Qantas said last week that it was investigating the proportion of the data that had been stolen, though it expected it would be "significant". The airline said that it was continuing to work with "specialist cybersecurity experts to forensically analyse the impacted system". That investigation has determined that the system was now secure and no credit card details, personal financial information or passport details were accessed in the breach. "We want to reassure all of our customers that there is no impact to Qantas' operations or the safety of our airline," Qantas said in a statement. On Friday Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson issued an apology to the airline's customers, saying the business takes matters of cybersecurity "incredibly seriously". "What I would first like to say is acknowledge the impact to all our customers and, first and foremost, I'd like to apologise to them," she said in an interview with Channel Seven in Athens. "I know this data breach is a serious concern. I know the stress that it has created for many, many millions of customers. "And so, right up front, I want to say we take this seriously and we are going to do everything that we can to communicate transparently." - ABC
CNA
01-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
Australia's Qantas confirms cyber incident at one of its contact centres
Australia's Qantas Airways confirmed on Wednesday a cyber incident at one of its contact centres, impacting customer data. The company said the breach occurred when a cybercriminal targeted a call centre and accessed a third-party customer servicing platform. "We are continuing to investigate the proportion of the data that has been stolen, though we expect it will be significant," Qantas said in a statement. The airline added that the system is currently contained, with no effect on its operations or the safety of the airline.
