Australian federal police say hackers in Russia are responsible for the Medibank data breach

Australian federal policie commissioner Reece Kershaw said the AFP had identified the hackers behind the medibank data breach while working with Interpol.

A group of loosely affiliated cyber criminals are likely responsible for significant breaches in countries across the world, according to intelligence.

Kershaw confirmed what was already assumed about the hackers – they were Russia-based and had been posting the data on a dark web forum linked to the REvil ransomware group.

Kershaw said intelligence points to a group of loosely affiliated cybercriminals who are likely responsible for past significant breaches in countries across the world,”

“These cybercriminals are operating like a business, with affiliates and associates who are supporting the business.”

“The cyber attack is an unacceptable attack on Australia and it deserves a response that matches the malicious and far-reaching consequences that this crime is causing.”

“Some of those involved could be in countries other than Russia but the AFP would be talking with Russian law enforcement about the individuals it had identified.” said Kershaw.

According to Kershaw Russia was accountable to Interpol, given it benefited from intelligence sharing.

“The AFP was also “scouring the internet and dark web” to find people seeking to profit from the Medibank hack.” he said

The AFP, responsible Australia’s INTERPOL National Central Bureau, has direct contact with National Central Bureau Moscow.

Investigators under Operation Guardian are also searching the internet and dark web to identify indivduals who are accessing leaked personal information and trying to profit from it.