Ticketek Australia data breach compromises customer information

Ticketek Australia is investigating a significant data breach that has compromised the personal information of its account holders. The event ticketing firm reported that customer names, dates of birth, and email addresses may have been accessed in the breach, which involves data stored on a cloud-based platform provided by a global third-party supplier.

In a statement released on May 31, 2024, Ticketek assured customers that their passwords and credit card information remain secure. The company emphasized that it uses robust encryption methods for online payments and processes them through a separate system unaffected by the breach.

Since becoming aware of the incident, Ticketek has prioritized a thorough investigation and has begun notifying potentially impacted customers. “Our priority at this initial stage is to best protect our customers, people, and all others who have entrusted us with their information,” the company stated. Ticketek apologized for any distress caused and committed to providing further updates as more details emerge.

The company has notified the Australian Cyber Security Centre and is coordinating with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner and the National Office of Cyber Security. Claire O’Neil, Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security, acknowledged Ticketek’s prompt response and urged Australians to be vigilant against potential scams, particularly phishing emails. She advised those affected to report incidents and seek support from cyber.gov.au.

This breach follows a similar incident involving Ticketmaster, a different ticketing company, which recently suffered a massive data breach affecting 560 million users. The ShinyHunters hacking group claimed responsibility for that attack, which exposed names, addresses, emails, phone numbers, partial credit card details, and Ticketmaster account information.