Hackers who claim responsibility for a cyber assault on Medibank Private, one of Australia’s leading private health insurers, have threatened to reveal the private information of clients.
Last week, Medibank revealed that it had been the target of a significant cyberattack. As it investigated the scope of the intrusion, it had to shut down several IT services.
Medibank said in a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange that on Wednesday of last week, it discovered strange activity on its network.
According to the organization, there is currently no proof that any sensitive data, including client data, has been accessed.
CEO David Koczkar expressed regret for the situation and admitted that “this news may worry some individuals.”
More than 3.9 million people use Medibank. On Thursday, shares were put into a trading standstill.
It comes after the largest cyberattack the nation has ever seen, when hackers recently gained access to the personal information of up to 10 million Optus users.
Additionally, last week, Telstra disclosed a data breach in which the names and emails of 30,000 employees were published online.
According to Medibank, it has taken quick action to “contain the situation” and has hired specialized cybersecurity experts to investigate the intrusion.
On Thursday about 12:15, the insurer tweeted that it had taken parts of its computer systems down in response, which would have an impact on consumers.
The international student policy management system and our ahm (Australian Health Management) systems have been shut down as a consequence. The majority of the day is expected for these services to remain unavailable,’ Medibank tweeted.
Taking systems down, according to Mr. Koczkar, was done to “lower the chance of harm to systems or data loss,” but access to healthcare providers and insurance were not impacted.
He said that the company was still trying to determine the precise nature of the hack.
We understand that we have a big duty to the individuals whose health and welfare depend on us, and whose data we possess, Mr. Koczkar added.
We are working around the clock to comprehend the entire scope of the event and any potential effects it could have on our customers, employees, and the larger ecosystem.
At $3.52 per share on Thursday, trade in Medibank shares was suspended.