The world’s second-largest airline United Airlines, detected an incursion into its computer systems in May or early June, said several people familiar with the probe.The hacking group that attacked the United Airlines network was reportedly the same group which had launched an attack on Anthem Blue Cross in 2014, stealing 21.5 million Social Security numbers as well as background check details from the federal government and medical records from the insurance provider.
The hacking group which apparently is affiliated with China is amassing information on intelligence officers, reports have revealed that the group is seemingly triangulating the movements of United Airlines' customers.
A United spokesman said the report was based on speculation and that United customers' private information is safe, but he declined to confirm or deny that a breach occurred.
The reported hack shows that all businesses are holding onto valuable information that could attract hackers.
But in the case of United, the purported hackers seemed interested in flight records, which don't likely have a broad resale market. It shows the variety of valuable information that needs to be protected from hackers.
