Optus is under fire after a cyber attack exposed millions of customers’ private information. This resulted in frustrated customers who were outraged that their data was compromised. Security breaches are one of the worst things that can happen to any business, so it’s important to stay vigilant and have proper IT security systems in place to protect your organisation’s and customers’ data.
What Was The Optus Data Breach?
On the 22nd of September, 2022, Optus announced that they discovered a cyberattack and had begun investigating the cause. Millions of customers’ data had been compromised, including names, dates of birth, phone numbers, email addresses, driver’s licence numbers, passport numbers, and addresses. Optus worked with police, financial institutions, and the government to get to the bottom of the breach and discovered it originated from overseas. The company emphasised that they have strong cybersecurity measures in place and that this attack was planned and sophisticated.
How Are Driver’s Licenses Affected?
The main concern of Optus customers is their driver’s licence numbers and card numbers being exposed. In Australia, driver’s licence numbers are commonly used to verify someone’s identity, meaning anyone with access to this information could use it to access secure accounts. Driver’s licences can also be used to obtain passports, credit card information, and authorised bank loans. State governments have informed those affected on how to get new licences issued and how to apply for a replacement.
However, driver’s licences are difficult to replace and with the sudden influx of millions of people attempting to get new ones, many are left waiting without any form of secure identification. The Optus breach means that many Australians’ are left without a quick method to replace their licences or secure information. This breach has encouraged many to highlight the weaknesses in Australia’s cyber security regulations. Data governance must be brought back into focus to urge companies to invest in high-quality cybersecurity to protect Australians’ data and keep them safe.
What To Do If You’ve Been Hacked
Even after taking all of the necessary precautions and steps to secure your accounts, sometimes it is not enough. If you find that your accounts have been compromised, there are a few steps you can take.
Firstly, reset all of your passwords on accounts that you believe have been affected. Then, contact your bank to freeze your account and identify any recent transactions that were not made by you. Next, use antivirus software to scan your computer for viruses. This software will find and remove any suspicious software and flag malicious activity. If you can’t access your accounts, contact the business and attempt to gain access through account recovery options such as the security questions you choose when setting up the account.
Have Questions?
Deployus is a trusted managed IT service provider in Brisbane, here to help with all your cybersecurity needs. If you have questions about scams and how to protect yourself, read our recent blog about common scams to look out for or contact our team to learn more.