Star Health and Allied Insurance received an asking ransom demand of $68,000 to provide access to confidential customer data leaked on October 9, according to the company’s BSE filing on Saturday.

The personal data belonging to over 3.1 crore Star Health policyholders as well as information pertaining to over 5.8 million claims were made publicly accessible last month via Telegram chatbots, according to a report by Reuters.

The company said on the based of ongoing investigations, it appears that the hackers used bots to purportedly share customer sensitive information through Telegram (the social media and messaging platform) and certain websites.

The insurance giant confirmed a data breach, weeks after cybercriminals posted alleged customer health and medical data online.

The insurance firm’s CISO took $150,000 for selling 7.24 terabytes of data, according to the hacker who said the company’s senior management was involved in the data breach.

Messaging app Telegram has taken decisive action against bots that were reported for sharing sensitive data related to Star Health and Allied Insurance Company, and is actively keeping an eye on their re-emergence,

Messaging app Telegram has acted against bots sharing sensitive data from Star Health and Allied Insurance, following a legal notice from the company. Telegram deleted the bots and monitors for new ones.

Star Health, India's biggest health insurer, on Saturday said it had received a ransom demand of $68,000 from a cyberhacker in connection with a leak of customer data and medical records. Star, which has a roughly $4 billion market cap,

Star Health , India's biggest health insurer, on Saturday said it had received a ransom demand of $68,000 from a cyberhacker in connection with a leak of customer data and medical records.

Star Health, India's largest health insurer, received a $68,000 ransom demand following a significant customer data leak. The hacker, using Telegram and a website, exposed sensitive information. The company has taken legal action and is cooperating with Indian cyber security authorities to identify the perpetrator.