Qantas Investigates Contact from Alleged Cybercriminal After Major Data Breach

Australian airline Qantas has confirmed it was contacted by an individual claiming to be involved in a recent cyberattack that compromised data belonging to up to 6 million customers, ABC News reports.

The airline has notified the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and is working to verify the legitimacy of the communication.

The contact follows last week’s announcement of a “significant” cybersecurity breach affecting customer records linked to a third-party platform used by the Qantas contact centre. The airline has not disclosed whether the individual demanded a ransom or what specific claims were made.

A spokesperson for the AFP said that authorities are investigating the matter, with Qantas “highly engaged” in assisting with the probe.

“We want to reassure all of our customers that there is no impact to Qantas’ operations or the safety of our airline,” the company stated.

Qantas says it continues to work closely with specialist cybersecurity experts to forensically analyze the compromised system. According to initial findings, no credit card numbers, passport details, or personal financial information were accessed during the breach.

Despite that, the company acknowledged that the amount of customer data affected is likely to be substantial. Efforts are ongoing to assess the exact nature and scope of the compromised information.

Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson publicly apologized for the breach during an interview on Friday, expressing regret for the stress caused to customers.

“This data breach is a serious concern,” Hudson said. “I know the stress that it has created for many, many millions of customers… We take this seriously and we are going to do everything that we can to communicate transparently.”

While the company has assured the public that flight operations remain unaffected, it is urging customers to stay alert for any suspicious communication and to follow recommended practices for protecting their personal information.