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 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.

Data breaches are a reality that can affect anyone. By staying informed about their rights and taking proactive measures, consumers can safeguard their personal information and mitigate the potential consequences of a breach.

The company, whose shares have declined 11%, has launched internal investigations and has taken legal action against Telegram and the hacker, whose website continues to share samples of Star customers’ data.

Star Health, India's largest health insurer, experienced a data breach exposing sensitive customer records. The hacker demanded a $68,000 ransom and used Telegram to disseminate the stolen data.