The Star Health chatbots are part of a broader trend of hackers using such methods to sell stolen data. Of five million people whose data was sold via chatbots, India represented the largest number of victims at 12%, showed the latest survey on the epidemic conducted by NordVPN at the end of 2022.

By Christopher Bing and Munsif Vengattil WASHINGTON/BENGALURU (Reuters) - Stolen customer data including medical reports from India's biggest health insurer, Star Health, is publicly accessible via chatbots on Telegram,

Using the chatbots enabled downloading policy and claims documents featuring names, phone numbers, addresses, tax details, copies of ID cards, test results and medical diagnoses

These records include policy documents, claims, names, phone numbers, addresses, tax details, ID copies, test results, and medical diagnoses.

Telegram chatbots have allowed unauthorized access to Star Health customer data including test results and medical diagnoses.

Sensitive customer data from Star Health Insurance was accessed via chatbots on Telegram, with claims of over 31 million records for sale. The company insists no widespread data breach occurred and is cooperating with authorities.

The data is available for free in small portions, while bulk data — amounting to 7.24 terabytes — is being offered for sale, according to a hacker using the alias “xenZen.”