Qantas, Australia's leading airline, has announced a major data breach affecting up to six million customer profiles due to a cyber attack on their third-party customer service platform. The breach was detected on June 30 when Qantas noticed unusual activity in the system, which stores vital customer data, including names, email addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, and frequent flyer numbers.
In response, the airline swiftly took action to contain the issue, and is currently investigating the full extent of the breach. However, it has reassured customers that sensitive information such as passport details, credit card information, or personal financial data is not affected. The airline maintains that no frequent flyer accounts, passwords, or PIN numbers have been compromised.
Qantas has informed the Australian Federal Police and relevant cybersecurity authorities about the incident, acknowledging the uncertainty it brings to affected customers. CEO Vanessa Hudson expressed regret, urging customers with concerns to use a dedicated support line. She also confirmed that airline operations and safety remain unaffected.
This incident adds to a growing list of data breaches affecting Australian companies this year, following significant leaks at AustralianSuper and Nine Media. The Australian Information Commissioner has highlighted an upward trend in such breaches, urging all organizations to bolster their cybersecurity measures against malicious threats.
