Origin Energy data breach hits 900k customers, ransom claimed

Origin Energy, a major Australian power company, reported a data breach affecting 900,000 current and former customers, potentially exposing personal and financial information. The company began investigating the incident in early July 2026 after initially deeming it uncredible, but confirmed the hack a few weeks later. An individual allegedly behind the breach claimed to have information on 2 million customers and hinted at a ransom demand.

While a purported agreement was mentioned, Origin has not confirmed it, warning that even if the data isn't publicly disclosed, it may still be exploited for scams. The incident is under investigation by authorities.