Data hacked from China-linked Northern Minerals released on the dark web
Data hacked from Northern Minerals has been released on the dark web a day after Treasurer Jim Chalmers told investors with links to Chinese companies to divest their stake in the company.
Data hacked from rare earth company Northern Minerals has been released on the dark web only a day after federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers ordered investors with links to Chinese companies to divest stakes in the company.
The Australian understands the hackers, who accessed the company’s systems in March, had previously demanded a cash payment in exchange for a promise to delete the data – a ransom demand refused by Northern Minerals – with the data release coming after controversy surrounding its ownership made headlines.
Northern Minerals said late on Tuesday it became aware of the data theft in late March.
The data stolen includes “corporate, operational and financial information and some details relating to current and former personnel and some shareholder information”, it said.
While the company has been at the centre of controversy around the intentions of key China-backed investors, it is unclear if the hackers are backed by state interests or are cyber criminals motivated solely by financial interests. The data breach is being investigated by Australian authorities.
Control of Northern Minerals has been the subject of controversy for months, with tensions rising among Chinese-backed shareholders after the rare earth explorer cut a deal with ASX-listed Iluka Resources for the sale of rare earth minerals from its Browns Range project in Western Australia.
Mr Chalmers intervened early last year to prevent one of the investor group – Yuxiao Fund, controlled by Chinese businessman Wu Tao – from increasing its stake in Northern Minerals to just under 20 per cent. The Foreign Investment Review Board launched an investigation into trading in the company’s shares after complaints last year by former boss Nick Curtis of suspicious trading.
On Monday Mr Chalmers ordered Yuxiao and its associates – individual investors Ximei Liu and Xi Wang; British Virgin Island-registered Black Stone Resources and United Arab Emirates-based Indian Ocean International Shipping and Service Company – to sell 613.5 million Northern Minerals shares, or about 10.4 per cent of the company.
Cover star Qualley a woman of substance and love
After her biggest year yet, the actor is setting her sights on even bolder projects.
Tragedy amid the triumph as LawConnect takes line honours
Celebrations by Christian Beck’s victorious LawConnect crew were muted out of respect for two lives lost to the pursuit of the blue water classic, as well as the skipper’s suspected food poisoning.