Criminal hackers have posted the personal data of nearly nine million people online after breaching three UK airports. The hack targeted Manchester Airports Group (MAG), which owns Manchester, London Stansted, and East Midlands airports.
The hackers attempted to extort MAG for an undisclosed sum, but the ransom was not paid. Customers are now being warned of potential secondary attacks as the data is freely available to other criminals.
MAG stated it has taken measures to protect customers and has contacted all those affected. The company confirmed that neither MAG nor the accessed system held customers' bank or payment details. Stolen information includes contact details, vehicle registrations, and postcodes, appearing to have accessed databases containing Wi-Fi login and car parking details.
Cyber-security expert Kevin Beaumont advised those affected to be vigilant for scams, particularly high-profile or wealthy individuals. He noted the data includes historical locations and planned future travel, suggesting individuals sensitive to their movements being known may need to take precautions. MAG also advised customers to be alert for unsolicited emails, text messages, and phone calls.
The Information Commissioner's Office offers advice for individuals whose data has been hacked, including reporting stolen documents, checking bank statements for unusual activity, and using strong passwords and multi-factor authentication.