jordan pulse -
Australian police say they have identified the Russian cyber-criminals holding the medical data of millions to ransom.
Hackers are demanding a dollar for each of the 9.7m sensitive records stolen from the medical insurer Medibank.
The hackers have published sensitive documents online including abortion records in an episode described in parliament as "morally reprehensible".
In a news conference, police warned hackers: "We know who you are".
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw told reporters that police believe the hackers are in Russia but did not provide any evidence.
"We believe we know which individuals are responsible but I will not be naming them," he said.
The Commissioner said his team was holding talks with Russian law enforcement officials, and asked Moscow to help.
"Russia benefits from the intelligence-sharing and data shared through Interpol, and with that come responsibilities and accountability," he said.
Cyber-security researchers and western agencies have long accused Russia of harbouring cyber-crime gangs.
The website being used by the Medibank hackers to leak the sensitive material is being linked to a notorious gang called REvil which is thought to be based in Russia.
REvil carried out dozens of high-profile ransomware attacks - making hundreds of millions of dollars - until the gang was disrupted last year.
Multiple arrests of alleged members were made around the world including, in a highly unusual sign of international co-operation, in Russia.
BBC