The Vulnerability of Airlines to Cyber Threats
Airlines are increasingly vulnerable targets for hackers, largely due to the extensive amount of personal data they collect. Among this data, passports and government-issued IDs rank as some of the most sought after by cybercriminals. According to Incogni, a privacy and personal data removal company, lapses involving these sensitive documents can lead to severe long-term identity theft risks. Unlike credit cards, which can be easily canceled and replaced, travel documents can be exploited for years, posing a threat through synthetic identity fraud and various impersonation scams.
The Recent Qantas Data Breach
This week, Qantas Airways faced a significant data leak orchestrated by the Scattered LAPSUS$ Hunters group. Fortunately, the breach didn’t include highly sensitive data like credit card details or passports. Instead, the compromised information consisted of names, email addresses, Frequent Flyer data, along with a limited amount of personal information such as addresses, dates of birth, and phone numbers. As Qantas noted, while they managed to avert the worst-case scenario, risks still linger for their customers.
Darius Belejevas, Head of Incogni, pointed out that even the exposure of basic identifiers can facilitate substantial fraud. Attackers often merge this data with information from other breaches, crafting detailed identity profiles that can be exploited for malicious purposes.
Third-Party Vendor Risks
This incident also highlights the escalating hazards associated with third-party vendors. The breach was traced back to vulnerabilities linked to Salesforce and social engineering tactics, underscoring how one compromised supplier can have a cascading effect across multiple industries. Belejevas emphasized that a single supplier breach could lead to the exposure of millions of customer records, showcasing the interconnected nature of digital security risks.
Rising Incidents in the Airline Sector
The trend isn’t isolated to Qantas. Recent data from Cyble’s threat intelligence database indicates that more than 20 airline-related data breaches have been reported on the dark web in 2025 alone. This marks a roughly 50% increase compared to the same timeframe in 2024. As criminal groups like Scattered Spider and the broader Scattered LAPSUS$ Hunters alliance intensify their focus on the aviation sector, the threat level remains heightened.
Recently, the CL0P ransomware group claimed to have obtained data from Envoy Air, a regional carrier for American Airlines. Although Envoy confirmed the breach, they stated that no customer data was affected. They emphasized their immediate response, which included launching an investigation and alerting law enforcement. However, it’s noteworthy that some limited business information and commercial contact details may have been compromised.
In contrast, WestJet is dealing with a more severe breach that occurred in June, where sensitive data including passenger travel documents and government-issued IDs were exposed. The airline has since offered those affected 24 months of complimentary identity theft monitoring and protection services. Despite such measures, experts like Incogni caution that compromised identity documents can lead to fraud risks enduring far beyond the offered protection period.
How to Safeguard Against Airline Data Leaks
For individuals impacted by these airline data breaches, Incogni advises taking proactive measures to safeguard personal information. Some key recommendations include:
- Enroll in identity theft monitoring services when offered to proactively tackle identity risks.
- Report suspicious activities, like phishing attempts, to relevant national anti-fraud hotlines such as the FTC in the U.S. or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
- Utilize strong, unique passwords along with multi-factor authentication for all online accounts.
- Minimize personal details on data broker and people-search sites to eliminate an easy target for scammers.
Ron Zayas, CEO of Incogni, highlighted the importance of enhancing data protection, stressing that sensitive information should be shared only when absolutely necessary. In our current landscape, where data can be abused not only by criminals but also by legitimate organizations for manipulation purposes, the onus is on individuals and corporations alike to exercise caution and rigorously protect their personal data.
