Global site navigation

Hackers dump Australian health data online, declare 'case closed'
Business and Economy

Hackers dump Australian health data online, declare 'case closed'

by  AFP 2 min read
In November hackers demanded health insurer Medibank pay US$9.7 million to keep stolen records off the internet - or one dollar for each of the company's impacted customers
In November hackers demanded health insurer Medibank pay US$9.7 million to keep stolen records off the internet - or one dollar for each of the company's impacted customers. Photo: Muhammad FAROOQ / AFP
Source: AFP

PAY ATTENTION: Let yourself be inspired by real people who go beyond the ordinary! Subscribe and watch our new shows on Briefly TV Life now!

The hackers leaking stolen Australian health records to the dark web on Thursday appeared to end their extortion attempt by dumping a final batch of data online and declaring:"Case closed."

In November the hackers demanded health insurer Medibank pay US$9.7 million to keep the records off the internet -- or one dollar for each of the company's impacted customers, which included Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Medibank refused to pay at the urging of the federal government, which at the height of the crisis considered making it illegal for hacked companies to hand over ransoms.

On Thursday morning the hackers said they had posted the last of the data online, deliberately coinciding with International Computer Security Day.

"Happy Cyber Security Day," they wrote.

Read also

Germany, Norway seek NATO-led hub for key undersea structures

"Added folder full. Case closed."

PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app!

The first batches of stolen data started appearing on a dark web forum on November 9, in curated posts highlighting medical records about drug addiction, pregnancy terminations and sexually transmitted infections.

Medibank on Thursday said the latest post was "incomplete and hard to understand" -- an indication the hackers may have lost interest after a ransom was taken off the table.

"While our investigation continues there are currently no signs that financial or banking data has been taken," Medibank said in a statement.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw said in November the hackers were believed to be a group of "loosely affiliated cyber criminals" who were based in Russia.

Cybersecurity analysts have suggested they could be linked to Russian hacker group REvil.

Australian government ministers have variously dubbed the hackers "scumbags", "scummy criminals", and "rolled gold mongrels".

PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy!

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.

Hot: