A major cyber attack has compromised the personal information of around 6 million customers of Australian airline Qantas, making it one of the country’s biggest data breaches in years.
The airline announced on Wednesday that a hacker had gained access to a third-party customer service platform, exposing sensitive details such as names, email addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, and frequent flyer numbers.
Hacker Targets Call Centre, Gains Access to Database
The attacker targeted a Qantas call centre, which led to the breach of the customer service platform.
Although the airline did not specify the location of the call centre or the customers affected, it said it had detected unusual activity on the platform and acted quickly to contain the breach.
Qantas added that it is still investigating the extent of the stolen data, but expects it to be significant.
The incident comes at a time when airlines are on high alert following warnings from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) about a cybercrime group called Scattered Spider, which is targeting airlines.
Although Qantas did not name the group, cyber security experts believe it could be behind the attack.
Qantas Assures Customers of Safety and Security
Despite the breach, Qantas reassured customers that there was no impact on safety or operations.
The airline’s CEO, Vanessa Hudson, apologized for the uncertainty caused and promised to take responsibility for protecting customer information.
Qantas has notified the Australian Cyber Security Centre, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, and the Australian Federal Police about the incident.
Cyber Attack a Setback for Qantas’ Rebuilding Efforts
The data breach is a setback for Qantas, which has been trying to win back public trust after facing criticism during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The airline had faced allegations of illegally sacking ground workers and selling tickets for cancelled flights. Although Qantas has made efforts to improve its reputation, this latest incident may undo some of that progress.
Cyber Security Experts Warn of Alarming Trend
Cyber security experts have warned of an alarming trend of coordinated attacks on airlines, with Scattered Spider believed to be behind a string of breaches.
The FBI has warned that the group is targeting airlines, and experts say it’s only a matter of time before more airlines are hit.