A hacker group has threatened to publish sensitive documents obtained from a breach on the PN’s IT systems unless the party “cooperates” within ten days.

The PN said on Monday that some of its data could have been stolen in a cyber-attack.

On Tuesday, the operators of Avaddon Ransomware, the group that is purportedly behind the attack, said it is in possession of “company financial data, salary payments, employees’ personal documents, banking, private client data, payment documents and much more.”

Some of the data has already been published on the dark web. These include employee details and passport photos.

The group said it will give the PN 240 hours to “communicate and cooperate with us.”

“If this does not happen before the time counter expires, we will leak valuable company documents,” it said.

It also warned that it would mount a DDoS attack on the PN’s IT system. Such attacks cripple website by overwhelming them with data.

PN sources told Times of Malta that the documents appear to be genuine and that the group had requested money.

The PN said on Monday that it had called on the Data Commissioner and the police to investigate.

PN Secretary General Francis Zammit Dimech said on Tuesday that Magistrate Victor Axiak is also leading an inquiry.