Ransom Demand of $68,000 From Cyberhacker Rocks India’s Largest Health Insurer, Star Health
A new twist has emerged in the ongoing cyberattack saga involving India’s largest health insurer, Star Health. The company has revealed that it has received a ransom demand of $68,000 from the cyberhacker responsible for leaking sensitive customer data and medical records. This development comes as the company is still reeling from a major data breach that made headlines on September 20.
According to reports, the threat actor, identified as “xenZen,” had initially demanded a ransom of $68,000 in an email sent to Star’s managing director and chief executive in August. Despite this, the company has maintained that it is a “victim of a targeted malicious cyberattack.”
The latest development has sparked concerns about the company’s ability to protect its customers’ personal data. Star Health has launched internal investigations and taken legal action against Telegram, the social media platform allegedly used by the hacker to leak the data. The company has also sought the assistance of Indian cyber security authorities to identify the hacker.
However, Telegram has declined to share the account details or permanently ban accounts linked to the hacker, despite multiple notices issued in this regard. This has raised questions about the platform’s role in the data breach and its commitment to ensuring the security of its users.
The data leak has already had a significant impact on Star Health’s reputation, with its shares declining by 11%. The company’s chief security officer, Amarjeet Khanuja, has also been accused of being involved in the data leak, although an internal investigation has found no wrongdoing.
As the saga continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Star Health will respond to the demands of the cyberhacker and what steps it will take to ensure the security of its customers’ data in the future. In the meantime, the company is under intense scrutiny, and its ability to recover from this crisis will be closely watched.
