Sydney - Australian Internet provider iiNet has urged more than 30 000 customers to change their passwords after claims emerged online that hackers had been attempting to sell personal information stolen from one of the firm's databases.
News of the potential data breach at Australia's third-largest web provider first emerged on Twitter, where it was alleged an unnamed hacker was offering to sell a database that included client passwords, home addresses and telephone numbers.
iiNet said it was not immediately able to confirm whether the information, which includes subscriber details from a company it purchased in 2008, had actually been breached.
As a precaution, however, iiNet CIO Matthew Toohey said the company had contacted almost 31 000 customers and asked for the password change to prevent unauthorised access to accounts.
“iiNet is aware of an incident that may have resulted in unauthorised access to old customer information stored on a legacy Westnet system,” Toohey said in a statement published by Australian media outlets on Tuesday.
“Customer username, address, telephone and, in some cases, password information may have been accessed. However, no payment details were stored on the server. The system is now offline and at no further risk.”
Reuters could not immediately reach iiNet officials for comment.
Reuters