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A ransomware group has begun posting client data apparently stolen from Australia’s largest health insurer on the dark web, AAP reports.

Hundreds of names, addresses, birthdates and Medicare details were being posted under “good-list” and “naughty-list” on a blog belonging to the group.

The hackers had demanded a ransom to stop them from releasing the data, but Medibank earlier this week said it would not pay it because it would encourage further crime.

Shortly after midnight, the group posted the first lists.

“Looking back that data is stored not very understandable format (table dumps) we’ll take some time to sort it out,” they said in the early hours of Wednesday.

“We’ll continue posting data partially, need some time to do it pretty.”

The hackers also appeared to have revealed screenshots of private messages recently exchanged between themselves and Medibank representatives.

Medibank has previously confirmed almost 500,000 health claims were stolen by the hackers, along with personal information, when the unnamed group hacked into its system weeks ago.

Some 9.7 million current and former customers have been affected.

No credit card or banking details were accessed.

On Tuesday, the ransomware group posted to its blog that “data will be publish (sic) in 24 hours”.

“P.S. I recommend to sell (sic) medibank stocks.”

Medibank apologised again to clients past and present on Tuesday. It advised customers to be alert for any phishing scams via phone, post or email.

“We knew the publication of data online by the criminal could be a possibility but the criminal’s threat is still a distressing development for our customers,” CEO David Koczkar said on Tuesday.

Home affairs minister Clare O’Neil said Medibank’s decision not to pay a ransom to cyber criminals was in line with government advice.