Ticketmaster targeted in nasty cyber attack with 560 million customers at risk

Online ticket sales site Ticketmaster is reportedly being held ransom in a sinister cyber attack, which has left over half a billion customers vulnerable to potential data protection breaches.

Hacking group ShinyHunters is allegedly demanding around €470,000 (£400k) in a ransom payment to prevent people’s personal details being sold to the dark web.

The hackers are said to have stolen 1.3TB and gained access to names, phone numbers, addresses and partial payments details of 560 million of Ticketmaster customers.

While Ticketmaster has not yet publicly confirmed the breach, authorities in Australia and the US are reportedly engaging with the site to respond to the incident.

The sophisticated ShinyHunters cybercriminal group have claimed they are responsible for acquiring billions of Ticketmaster customers’ details, which has been described as a ‘wake-up call’ to all firms who operate largely online. 

Anthony Young, chief executive of UK cybersecurity firm Bridewell, said: “Ticketmaster reportedly falling victim to a data breach highlights the growing threat that large-scale cyber attacks pose to widely-used services.

“This breach, attributed to a hacker collective demanding a substantial six-figure ransom, signifies severe financial implications for companies.”

Research recently revealed that the average financial loss from ransomware attacks is nearly £300,000 (approx €352,396).

“The consequences of cyber attacks extend beyond monetary loss,” Mr Young continued.

“Operational disruption affects 42% of businesses, data loss impacts 39%, and reputational damage is a concern for 35% of those surveyed.”

Mr Young concluded by saying that this vast cyber attack on Ticketmaster should be a “stark reminder of the importance of fortifying cyber defences” to all companies.