Today, we will be going over the Optus data breach, which may have caused their 9.7 million subscribers’ personal data and information to be stolen.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission warns about Optus data breach
Optus, Australia’s second-largest telecom, has experienced a significant data breach, with potentially millions of customers’ personal information stolen by a hostile cyber-attack. The assailants are thought to be part of a criminal or state-sponsored organization. According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Scamwatch, “If you are an Optus customer, your name, date of birth, phone number, email addresses may have been released.”
“For some customers identity document numbers such as driver’s licence or passport numbers could be in the hands of criminals. It is important to be aware that you be may be at risk of identity theft and take urgent action to prevent harm.”
How many people are affected?
Optus could not say how many of its 9.7 million Australian users had been compromised because of the Optus data breach on Thursday, but its CEO, Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, claimed the figure was “significant.”
“We want to be absolutely sure when we come out and say how many. We’re so deeply disappointed because we spend so much time and we invest so much in preventing this from occurring. Our teams have thwarted a lot of attacks in the past and we’re very sorry that this one was successful.
What information was taken?
Customers’ names, dates of birth, phone numbers, and email addresses may have been compromised, according to Optus. Some clients’ street addresses, driver’s license numbers, and passport numbers were also obtained. Payment information and account credentials were not hacked, according to Optus, and its phone services were still operational. According to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OIAC), it just takes a minimal quantity of information to jeopardize a person’s identity. The OAIC website states that:
“Your identity can be stolen if a thief accesses your personal information, including from any document that contains information about you. Even if a thief only accesses a small amount of your personal information, they may be able to steal your identity if they can find out more about you from public sources. This includes social media accounts which may include your date of birth, photos and information about your family. Identity fraud can result in someone using another individual’s identity to open a bank account, get a credit card, apply for a passport or conduct illegal activity.”
How do I know if I am at risk?
Optus has stated that it will contact any consumers it considers are at a higher risk of being hacked, issuing customized warnings and providing third-party monitoring services. Customers who suspect their data has been compromised or have particular concerns were directed to contact Optus through the My Optus App (the firm stated that this is the safest way to connect with Optus) or by phoning 133 937.
Optus has said that it would not include links in any emails or SMS communications. Users should never click on a link claiming their personal information has been hacked.
What should I do to protect my details?
Optus consumers should safeguard their personal information by updating online account passwords and using multifactor authentication for banking, according to Scamwatch. Affected clients should also set limitations on their bank accounts, keep an eye out for strange behavior, and request a credit report ban if fraud is detected. Scamwatch’s statement also added:
“It is important to be aware that you be may be at risk of identity theft and take urgent action to prevent harm. Scammers may use your personal information to contact you by phone, text or email. Never click on links or provide personal or financial information to someone who contacts you out of the blue.”
What is the government doing to help?
Clare O’Neil, the home affairs minister, stated that the Australian Cyber Security Centre was providing Optus with advice and technical help, and that Australian firms and organizations were routinely attacked by hackers and unfriendly governments.O’Neil said: “All Australians and Australian organisations need to strengthen their cyber defences to help protect themselves against online threats.” The minister recommended anybody who believes they have been a victim of a cyber-attack to go to cyber.gov.au.
We hope that you found this article on Optus data breach informative. If you did, we are sure that you will also enjoy reading some of our other articles, such as major new Google Chrome security vulnerability discovered, or possible TikTok breach raises questions about data leaks and security.
