Manchester Airports Group Refuses Ransom Payment After Cyber Attack Affects Data of 8.7 Million Customers
Manchester Airports Group (MAG) confirmed that a cyber security incident resulted in hackers accessing the data of approximately 8.7 million customers across Manchester, East Midlands, and London Stansted airports. The breach involved customer contact details, vehicle registrations, and postcodes, primarily derived from WiFi sign-ups, car park bookings, and lounge access. MAG stated that while the hackers demanded a ransom fee for the return of the data, the group refused to pay the sum. The company emphasized that passenger safety and aviation security remained uncompromised throughout the incident, and that the bank and payment details of customers were not held in the hacked system. The firm quickly contained the risk and is working with specialist advisors to protect systems. The Information Commissioner's Office is currently assessing the breach. Customers are urged to remain vigilant against suspicious communications from the airports, as the group apologized for any inconvenience caused by the theft of personal information.