Cyberattack on Optus telephone company in Australia: data compromises of millions of users

A massive cyberattack on the large Optus phone network, affecting the personal data of 9.8 million Australians, prompted the federal government to prepare measures to allow the company to share the data of affected users with databases and from possible other attacks, so that precautions can be taken against potential fraud. 

Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said she met with officials from the Australian Signal Directorate to plan measures that require banks and other financial institutions to be notified immediately of significant data breaches affecting their customers.

"Australian companies need to do everything they can to protect their customer data," she later said.   

Meanwhile, authorities are verifying the veracity of a post that threatens to sell data online if Optus doesn't pay a million dollar ransom.

And federal police have revealed that they are aware of reports that "stolen data and Optus user credentials may be for sale across a number of platforms."   

The telecommunications company said that while no financial information or passwords were obtained, the breach compromised customer names, dates of birth, email addresses, phone numbers, addresses associated with their account and details of identity documents such as driver's license numbers or passport numbers.

Optus did not disclose how many of its subscribers in Australia were affected by the breach, but Interior Minister Clare O'Neil told parliament Monday that it affected 9.8 million people, of whom 2.8 million had lost. "significant amounts of data".

Banks have long been a prime target for cybercriminals,

and some of them have already stepped up their monitoring of suspicious activity.

A spokesperson for the Australian Banking Association said banks are closely monitoring developments, but Optus users should ask for the most up-to-date information from the company.

"We will do whatever it takes (we will do everything possible) to protect our customers," assured an Optus spokesperson.

Optus is a subsidiary of Singtel, owned by Singapore, and is Australia's second largest telecommunications company, with approximately 10 million customers.