Consumer Council says no data leaked on ‘dark web’ following hack

The Consumer Council said on Monday that its data compromised in a recent computer server hack was not leaked on the “dark web”, adding that an investigation is ongoing.

The Consumer Council previously sent out 25,000 data breach notifications to complainants, staff, and its magazine subscribers and received 106 inquiries after the watchdog discovered its computer server was hacked on September 20 and a US$500,000 (HK$3.9 million) ransom demanded.

The watchdog’s chief executive, Gilly Wong Fung-han, said earlier that the Council would not pay the ransom - which the hackers demanded to be paid before September 23. 

The watchdog’s investigation found that the data of approximately 8,000 individuals was suspected to have been compromised.

Speaking at a press conference today, Wong said no data had been disclosed publicly on the “dark web” by far, whereas all internal services and public services have resumed normally.

Read more: Consumer Council in fight mode on hack