Optus Data Breach Optus Data Breach Released 30 Sep 2022, 1:59AM(UTC) While Optus has confirmed that no payment information has been compromised. Sign up to Guardian Australia's Morning Mail, Our Australian morning briefing email breaks down the key national and international stories of the day and why they matter. What happened at Optus wasn't a sophisticated attack. You can also report scams to Scamwatch www. including the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the US. At present, the telco has yet to provide details as to which customers are deemed most affected, and only stated that the most affected customers will be receiving direct communications from Optus over the coming days on how to start their subscription at no cost. Investigators are yet to verify the user's claims, but some experts quickly said the sample data - which contained about 100 records - appeared legitimate. Optus has suffered a massive data breach, compromising the personal information of up to 9 million customers. But just hours later, the user apologised - saying it had been a "mistake" - and deleted the previously posted data sets. For instance, while Optus mobile plans come with a no lock-in contract, youll be required to pay out the remaining cost of your mobile phone if youre currently paying it off in 12-, 24- or 36-month instalments. "A Sydney man has been arrested over an alleged SMS scam using information obtained in the Optus data breach, the Australian Federal Police have confirmed," KIIS 106.5 FM's newsreader announced. Optus still hasnt confirmed how the data was accessed. If youre a current or previous Optus customer, be vigilant to scammers trying to contact you via phone call, email and SMS. The Optus data breach occurred through an unprotected and publically exposed API. Check your credit score. If this is the case . But it's still only a remedial measure, intended to be in place for 12 months. The attacker likely scripted the process to repeat requests from the endpoint until they had collected millions of instances of personally identifiable information. Updated 14 October 2022, first published 26 September 2022. With a major data breach hitting telecom giant, Optus in September, the ACCC has issued a warning urging Australians to watch out for scams. So it is not the case of having some sort of completely exposed APIs [software interfaces] sitting out there. The 100-point identity check was instituted in 1988, long before anyone could have imagined a remote data breach of the kind seen at Optus. After last month's massive data breach Optus tried to soothe angry customers by offering to pay for a credit monitoring service for a year.. About 7 million had their dates of . In the week since Optus announced it had been the subject of a massive data breach with as many as 10 million customer accounts exposed, solid information about what actually happened has been scarce. The Optus Data Breach has, appropriately, directed huge focus onto the cyber security processes of that organisation. 100 points of identification required to prove someone's identity for organisations such as Centrelink or a police check. However, the Government understands impacted Optus customers may be concerned about identity theft relating to their passports. Optus, Australia's second-largest telco, suffered a major data breach on Wednesday, Sept 21, with potentially millions of customers' personal information leaked by a malicious cyber-attack. Optus has advised that it is not sending links in its email or SMS communication, so do not click any links from someone claiming to be Optus. allows individuals to check if their data has been exposed in breaches. READ MORE: Optus could face class action over massive data breach Optus Media Release Timeline: 22nd September: Following a cyberattack, Optus is investigating the possible unauthorised access of current and former customers' information. In an emotional apology, Optus chief executive Kelly Bayer Rosmarin called it a "sophisticated attack", saying the company has very strong cybersecurity. Put 'Optus' in the subject line. Unfortunately, this breach of data doesn't just impact current Optus customers. The company has faced calls to cover the costs of replacement passport and driving licences, as people scramble to protect themselves. A subset of these individuals, around 2.8 million, have also had their identity data exposed in the Optus hack, including licence, passport and Medicare numbers. Digital security experts explain. Hope all goes well from this.". Anyone who's had an account with Optus in the last seven (7) years has likely had their personal data accessed by hackers. . There are a number of resources that . The massive Optus data breach that could have compromised the personal data of more than 10 million users has once again cast the spotlight on the cyber resilience of . When a hacker gains access to a customer database, the first thing they do is cross their fingers and check whether data identifiers increase incrementally. Both sides of politics have traded blame on the issue. Optus has not released to the public how it was hacked, but its CEO, Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, told the media it was a sophisticated attack. State and federal governments are making it easier for those affected to replace identity documents that may have been accessed. Optus has said it was the target of a "sophisticated attack". You may also face cancellation fees if you have an Optus NBN plan (opens in new tab). If the details of 10,000 users were in fact released, unfortunately there is no way of checking if you were part of that group at least right now. The latest such breach attributed to negligence with APIs, or application programming interfaces that are used for exchanging data across applications, is the massive theft of customer data from Australian telecom Optus.. First disclosed by Optus on Sept. 22, the data exposed in the breach of 9.8 million customer records includes driver's licenses, passports, and Medicare ID numbers, in . According to Burns, the possible Optus Data Breach Settlement amount will be up to $5,000-$20,000 per individual. The AFP has also launched Operation GUARDIAN, under the APFled JPC3, a joint partnership with law enforcement, the private sector and industry to combat cybercrime. Optus data breach Following a recent cyber-attack, Optus customers are advised they could be at risk of identity theft. It is potentially a very big number. Equifax Protect (opens in new tab) is a credit monitoring and identity protection service which can be used to help protect your credit profiles and identity. IDCARE is Australia and New Zealand's national identity and cyber support service, they provide a free and confidential support service for those impacted by scams and identity crimes. VideoLooking for clues in video of forgotten massacre, The agony of not knowing, as Mariupol mass burial sites grow. You should also visit IDCare (opens in new tab), a national identity and cyber support service all of these websites have detailed advice for what to do if your datas been hacked. But he said attackers tended to not target a single organisation. The Optus hack is a blunt reminder that your personal information is constantly at risk of exposure in the digital age. We'll do it without being regulated. What have we learned after the Optus cybersecurity attack? "This is potentially the most serious privacy breach in Australian history, both in terms of the number of affected people and the nature of the information disclosed," said Ben Zocco from Slater and Gordon Lawyers. This API didn't require user authentication before facilitating a connection. This may include committing fraud, where they draw funds from existing accounts, and theft, where they create new accounts in a victim's name. Video, Why mourners are opting to scatter ashes by drone, Australia probes firms over customer 'faceprints', Australia's Nine TV network hit by cyber-attack, West urged to step up Ukraine air defence support, Cardinal among 11 French bishops accused of abuse, Three leap from migrant rescue boat held in Italy, Dogs gifted by North Korea's Kim may need new home, Stolen $3bn Bitcoin mystery ends with popcorn tin, Olivia Attwood withdraws from I'm a Celebrity. The AFP is also monitoring online forums, including the internet and dark web, for criminals trying to exploit the breached data. The attacker writes that Optus can prevent the. Optus asking for and keeping unnecessary data (some people involved are those who applied for a product but ended up not getting it but yet their data remained on the file and they were informed as part of the breach) Optus taking more than 24 hours (more like 48) after media announcement to inform individual customers affected A threat actor (s) managed to access the personal details of millions of Optus customers. Looking for clues in video of forgotten massacre. "I think most customers understand that we are not the villains," she said, adding Optus could not say more while the investigation was ongoing. If Optus has advised you that your Medicare card number was exposed and you're concerned, you can replace your Medicare card. The Australian Cyber Security Centre is supporting Optus with a cyber security incident response and assisting other Australian telecommunications providers to enhance their cyber security. While neither the Australian Federal Police (AFP) nor Optus have verified the legitimacy of the ransom demand, some cybersecurity experts such as Kirk do believe that the ransom demand was legitimate. Oct 11, 2022 - 5.00am Australian businesses are rushing to check they aren't flouting privacy rules, and hoarding data for longer than allowed, as the fallout from the high-profile customer. 2. Information on how to respond to a data breach can be found in the OAICs data breach preparation and response guide. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging. Optus is the country's second-largest telecommunications company, Optus chief executive Kelly Bayer Rosmarin said she was "devastated" by the breach, As data circulates, revelations of more stolen details, 'Potentially Australia's most serious breach'. The personal information stolen from Optus may be used with other information cyber criminals find about you online . I suspect the amount of exposure the incident received plus the AFP involvement and commentary from high-level politicians spooked them, he said. Be alert for scams referencing the Optus data breach. More than 11 million Optus customers had personal details stolen in data breach Those who experience financial loss may be able to claim compensation Customer would need to prove Optus. The Australian federal police are working with law enforcement authorities overseas, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the US, to locate whoever obtained the data, and who tried to sell it. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. "Well, it wasn't. You should absolutely sign up to the credit monitoring service if youre given the option. So for a threat actor to specifically just go after [one company] is a little bit unique in that sense.. Businesses can . Australians caught up in a massive breach of Optus data will be able to change their driver's licence numbers and get new cards, with the telco expected to bear the multimillion-dollar cost of the changeover.. Twitter users jump to Mastodon - but what is it? Home; Help . Maurice Blackburn is conducting another case against Optus in relation to a 2019 data breach where Optus mistakenly released its customers names, addresses and phone numbers to the White Pages.. Customers impacted by that data breach would likely have received a letter from Optus in October 2019. Enable multifactor authentication for all accounts. Optus customers affected by the recent data breach have been offered a complimentary annual subscription service to monitor their credit information and protect against identity theft. They can help secure your accounts if they have been compromised. The personal information of current and former Optus customers was obtained in the data breach, impacting up to 9.8 million individuals. Optus says it has contacted its customers who have had their identity data compromised in the breach. . Updated 14 October 2022, first published 26 September 2022, How to access Australian Government information, data breach preparation and response guide, privacy considerations for financial services entities, Ting Law firm Slater and Gordon (opens in new tab) has already launched a class action investigation, and those affected can register their interest in any updates. Individuals who are concerned that their personal information may have been disclosed due to the Optus data breach are advised in the first instance to check the Optus website for information and contact Optus via the My Optus App or call 133 937. When personal information gets released, there's a chance that a hacker, scammer, or thief will put it to use. . Tell us why this information was helpful and well work on making more pages like it, Practical steps to keep yourself and your family secure, How to protect your business and staff from common cyber threats, Understand how to protect your organisation from cyber threats, Strategies to protect your organisation from cyber threats, Interactive tools and advice to boost your online safety, Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra, Australian Government - Australian cyber security centre, Getting your business back up and running, Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Security Incidents, Gateway and Cross Domain Solution guidance, Report a cyber security incident for critical infrastructure, Report a cybercrime or cyber security incident, apply for a Commonwealth Victims' Certificate, Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. If you believe you are victim of a cybercrime, go to ReportCyber. Check your renewal notice to see if you can renew online or in person. The personal information of current and former Optus customers was obtained in the data breach, impacting up to 9.8 million individuals. The telecommunications giant has tasked credit . The hackers claiming to be behind the attack are asking for $1 million USD which is about $1.5 million AUD. "Obviously, I am angry that there are people out there that want to do this to our customers, and I'm disappointed that we couldn't have prevented it," she said on Friday. Tom's Guide is supported by its audience. Different from what the media and your email have said. These are 4 concrete steps to address immediately to avoid becoming the next victim. Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning. When you replace your licence, your driver licence number will remain the same but your card number will change. The federal government has also been highly critical of Optus following the data breach, and calls to toughen privacy laws are already on the table. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Now, we're not talking about the phone number and the name, nooo, basically everything that . On 24 September, Optus announced it had experienced a cyberattack on 22 September 2022, which may have resulted in unauthorised access to current and former customers' information. An official inquiry noted trade in stolen Medicare numbers on the dark web. It is not clear whether Optusdata is the person responsible for the attack, or whether they are the only person who has access to the data. They usually scan across the internet looking for known vulnerabilities and exploiting those vulnerabilities all at once, he said. We will not sale [sic] data to anyone," they posted. "We are probably a decade behind where we ought to be," she told the ABC. 2022 BBC. Opposition MPs have said the Labor government is "asleep at the wheel", but the government points out it was only elected in May after a decade of conservative rule. We dont yet know the truth of the matter, and theres a chance we never will. Furthermore, if you've signed up to a plan while the device was discounted, youll lose that discount by cancelling the contract early, and will need to pay out the full cost of the phone. So no," Ms O'Neil replied. Services Australia will allow you to replace your Medicare card for free. A threat actor (s) managed to access the personal details of millions of Optus customers. Important sentence is that last one. The big issues facing Egypt's COP27 climate summit, The surprising truth about the Philistines, South Koreans demand justice for Itaewon dead, 'There really is more to life than posting on Instagram', Why mourners are opting to scatter ashes by drone. 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