Qantas has announced that it will soon provide its customers with information regarding the data compromised in a recent cyberattack that targeted the airline’s customer call centre. The breach, which occurred on Monday, involved a cybercriminal gaining access to a third-party customer service platform, resulting in the exposure of over six million customer records.
As of now, Qantas has reported that no individuals have claimed to possess the stolen data, and the airline is collaborating with law enforcement to thoroughly investigate the incident. By next week, Qantas aims to inform those affected about the specific types of personal data that were accessed, noting that the details may differ from one customer to another.
Importantly, Qantas confirmed that sensitive information such as credit card details, frequent flyer numbers, and identification documents like passports were not compromised during the attack. CEO Vanessa Hudson acknowledged the distress that data breaches can cause and emphasised their commitment to transparency and customer reassurance. She stated, “We know that data breaches can feel deeply personal and understand the genuine concern this creates for our customers.”
To address the issue, Qantas is taking it seriously and has engaged both its cybersecurity teams and external specialists to determine the extent of the breach. The airline is in the process of establishing a system to communicate with affected customers regarding the potential compromises to their personal data.
Furthermore, Qantas has already implemented additional security measures to strengthen its systems and protect the integrity of its customer data. Hudson also apologised for the uncertainty caused by the incident and reiterated their dedication to keeping customers updated throughout the ongoing investigation.
In summary, Qantas is actively addressing a significant data breach by working with authorities to understand the impact, maintaining transparency with customers, and enhancing security protocols to prevent future incidents.