Ticketmaster cyber attack 'sees hackers steal details of 560 million customers'

Ticketmaster, the online ticket sales platform, has reportedly been hit by a cyber attack.

Hackers are believed to have stolen the personal details of over half a billion customers, according to reports. The hacking group ShinyHunters is allegedly demanding a ransom payment of around £400,000 to stop the data from being sold on the dark web.

Authorities in Australia and the US are said to be liaising with Ticketmaster to understand and respond to the incident. The hackers are believed to have accessed names, addresses, phone numbers and partial payment details of 560 million of the site's customers.

So far, Ticketmaster has not publicly confirmed the breach. Both Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation, have been contacted for comment. Anthony Young, chief executive of UK cybersecurity firm Bridewell, warned that this incident should act as a "wake-up call" for all companies to prioritise data protection due to the increasing threat of cyber attacks.

He 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."

"Bridewell's recent research into critical national infrastructure organisations reveals that the average financial loss from ransomware attacks is nearly £300,000. However, the consequences extend beyond monetary loss. Operational disruption affects 42% of businesses, data loss impacts 39%, and reputational damage is a concern for 35% of those surveyed."

He added: "Although Ticketmaster may not be classified as critical national infrastructure, the vast amount of personal data they manage globally has far-reaching implications. With an estimated 560 million people potentially affected, this is a disruptive breach and a stark reminder of the importance of fortifying cyber defences."

"It should be a wake-up call for all organisations to prioritise the protection of their data and systems against such pervasive threats. Especially high-profile organisations with a large number of users and customers, which make significant targets."