6 million flyers hit by major airline data breach, names, phone numbers, and emails leaked

Airplane

Australian airline Qantas has confirmed a major data breach that has exposed the personal information of around six million passengers, according to report by TechCrunch. The airline said the cyberattack targeted one of its call centers on June 30, where hackers managed to break into the system and steal customer data.

The stolen data includes sensitive information such as names, phone numbers, email addresses, dates of birth, and frequent flyer numbers. However, the airline has not said whether any financial information or passwords were affected.

Qantas is not the only airline hit by hackers recently. In the past few weeks, both WestJet, a Canadian airline, and Hawaiian Airlines have also reported data breaches. Some reports have pointed to a hacking group called Scattered Spider, which has been linked to several high-profile cyberattacks on large companies.

Right now, it’s unclear whether the Qantas hack is connected to Scattered Spider. Cybersecurity firm Mandiant, which is investigating, said it is still too early to confirm that link. But they did warn that airlines should stay on “high alert”, as hackers are increasingly using social engineering tactics to trick employees and gain access to internal systems.

Qantas said it is working with cybersecurity experts to investigate the breach and secure its systems. The airline has also started notifying affected customers and is advising them to stay vigilant for any suspicious emails or phone calls.

This incident once again highlights how airlines and other big companies are becoming prime targets for cybercriminals looking to steal personal data.