Bombay HC restrains ‘John Doe’ hacker from selling co data | Mumbai News

MUMBAI: Bombay HC has granted temporary injunction against an unknown hacker who has threatened to leak confidential data of a private insurance company, reports Rosy Sequeira.Generali Central Life Insurance Company Ltd sought relief and showed a screenshot of the hacker’s threat to pay him $500,000 or he would sell the information. No details of the hacker who identifies itself as ‘Medusa’ was available, and so he was impleaded as a John Doe (unknown entity) defendant. Representing Generali Central Life Insurance Company Ltd, a joint venture between Generali Group and Central Bank of India, senior advocate Venkatesh said the nature of the confidential data compromised includes the company’s information, its business and customer details. Dhond said given past instances of such ransomware attacks, it is very likely the hacker may disseminate the Generali Central’s data which will cause grave and irreparable loss, harm andinjury to it and its customers. He urged similar relief as was granted earlier to HDFC Life Insurance Company Ltd.“I am of the view that a strong prima facie case has been made out for the grant of ad interim relief. The gravity of the consequences that may follow if the applicant’s confidential data is made public or traded is overwhelming,” said Justice Arif Doctor on Thursday.He restrained the hacker and its directors, proprietors, partners and persons claiming through them from using, copying, distributing,transmitting and disclosing the information of the confidential stolen data from Generali Central or any other information relating to it not available in the public domain.Justice Doctor also directed the Central Department of Telecommunication (DOT) and Ministry of Electronic and Information Technology (MEITY) to “forthwith” delete, block and disable accounts, content, domain names, phone numbers and email addresses in relation to the stolen data with 24 hours of intimation by Generali Central.