5.7 million Qantas customers have had their personal details stolen in a cyber-attack carried out by the same teen hacking group that recently targeted Marks & Spencer.
The airline confirmed that hackers accessed data via one of its call centres in the Philippines.
What data was stolen in the Qantas breach?
While payment and passport details appear to be safe, other sensitive information wasn’t so lucky.
The stolen details include:
- Phone numbers
- Email addresses
- Home addresses
- Dates of birth
- Genders
- Meal preferences
What do we know about the Qantas hack?
The group behind the attack, Scattered Spider, is made up mostly of teenagers based in the UK and US. Despite their age, they’ve caused chaos across multiple industries, from retail and telecoms to gaming and finance.
Qantas said it’s contacted affected customers and ramped up its cyber security, with a forensic investigation now underway.
Meanwhile, the UK has arrested four people linked to the group – three men and one woman – on suspicion of blackmail, money laundering, and computer misuse offences.
What does this mean for customers?
Marks & Spencer recently had their customer data compromised in a similar attack. That makes this more than a one-off incident – it’s part of a wider and worrying trend. Data breaches don’t just vanish. The long-term impact can take months, even years, to surface.
If you’re a customer of Qantas, it’s worth staying informed to find out if you could be due compensation.
The long-term impact of a data breach
When your personal data is stolen, the fallout isn’t always immediate. It’s what happens months – sometimes even years – later that can really catch people off guard.
Hackers often wait until the dust settles before doing anything with your data. They might sell it on the dark web or use it in slow-burn scams like phishing, identity theft or fake loan applications. You could suddenly start receiving suspicious emails, see unfamiliar transactions on your accounts, or even be refused credit, all long after the original breach. That’s why it pays to act early.
How to protect yourself
Most people aren’t sure where to start, but we’ve put together a free, practical resource to help.
So, your data has been breached… is a clear, plain-English guide designed to walk you through the steps you should take – from tightening your online security to checking if you’re eligible for compensation.
Whether you’ve just received a breach notification or are still waiting for one, this guide is for you.
Register for updates on the Qantas data breach
If you were affected by the Qantas breach, staying informed is key. Register for updates and we’ll keep you in the loop if legal action becomes available. You can also find out more about how to register for a M&S data breach claim here.
