Millions of customers’ data may have been compromised in a cyberattack on Qantas, the airline confirmed in a statement to shareholders this morning.
The airline reported that a cyberattack took place on Monday. A cybercriminal targeted a customer call center and managed to access a third-party customer service platform.
Qantas said the attack compromised customer data, potentially impacting six million customers who have service records on the system.
Qantas said frequent flyer accounts were not compromised.
Passwords and PINs were not accessed.
“We sincerely apologise to our customers and we recognise the uncertainty this will cause,” Qantas Group chief executive Vanessa Hudson said.
“Our customers trust us with their personal information and we take that responsibility seriously.
“We are contacting our customers today and our focus is on providing them with the necessary support.
“We are collaborating closely with the federal government’s National Cyber Security Coordinator, the Australian Cyber Security Centre, and independent cybersecurity specialists.”
The company said it is putting additional security measures in place while conducting its investigation.
The Australian Cyber Security Centre and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner have been notified about the incident.
The cyberattack has also been reported to the Australian Federal Police.
A dedicated customer support line is being set up for customers.
Updates will be shared with customers through Qantas’ social media pages and the company’s website.
