Ticketek Australia has revealed that some of its customers’ personal information, including names, dates of birth, and email addresses, may have been accessed during a recent data breach. In a statement released on Friday, Ticketek explained that the compromised information was stored on a cloud-based platform managed by a “reputable, global third-party supplier.”
Despite the breach, the company assured customers that their passwords were securely encrypted and that no accounts or payment details had been compromised. “Since our third-party supplier alerted us to this issue, we have been diligently investigating to inform affected customers and stakeholders as quickly as possible,” Ticketek stated. “We have already begun notifying those customers who may have been impacted.”
Ticketek expressed regret for any concern this breach might cause and promised to provide further updates as more information becomes available.
This incident follows closely on the heels of another potential data breach involving Ticketmaster, a rival ticketing agency owned by US-based Live Nation. The Department of Home Affairs has been working with Ticketmaster to investigate claims of stolen customer information. At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that the two incidents are related.
Australia’s National Cyber Security Coordinator, Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness, reported that Ticketek had informed her of the potential breach, and the Australian Signals Directorate and Australian Federal Police are also aware of the situation.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil noted that while the breach might affect many Australians, the compromised data seems to be limited to names, dates of birth, and email addresses. She emphasized the importance of companies quickly alerting affected customers and offering support in the wake of such breaches.
Minister O’Neil advised Australians to be particularly vigilant for scams and phishing attempts during this period. “Be on the lookout for suspicious emails and visit cyber.gov.au for support and to report any incidents. Don’t click on any links in emails unless you are absolutely sure they are legitimate, and exercise caution when dealing with any unusual emails or texts,” she warned.
