Government says telecommunications giant ‘left the window open’ for unsophisticated attack that could lead to European-style privacy laws When Amy

The biggest hack in history: Australians scramble to change passports and driver licences after Optus telco data debacle

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2022-10-01 03:30:18

Government says telecommunications giant ‘left the window open’ for unsophisticated attack that could lead to European-style privacy laws

When Amy Hunting* first heard about one of the biggest cyber attacks in Australian history, she immediately checked to see if her personal details had been compromised.

She realised that, as a customer of the country’s second largest telecommunications provider, Optus, there was a fair chance she was one of about 10 million people whose information had been hacked – but at first, there was no communication. Eventually she got an email saying she had been caught up in the breach, which exposed one in three Australians to the risk of identity theft or financial fraud.

With millions of others, she went about trying to change her driver’s licence. She even had a bar put on her own credit report, to stop anyone from trying to open a new account in her name.

“I was really frustrated. They’re a big tech company. It’s frustrating and surprising that they’re so laissez faire with their data. Also, that they took their time in informing us.”