Hackers issue ‘ultimatum’ over payroll data breach

A cybercrime gang reportedly based in Russia has issued “an ultimatum” to British and other companies targeted in a recent large-scale hack of payroll data, the BBC reported on Wednesday.

The Clop group has been blamed by cybersecurity experts for the breach announced last week, which saw payroll data of more than 100,000 staff stolen at firms including the BBC, British Airways and high street pharmacy Boots.

The hacking gang is now said to have posted a notice on the dark web in broken English warning those affected to email them before June 14 or face the private data being published, the BBC said.