At a glance.
- The Australian government reacts to Optus data breach.
- IRS issues warning about tax-themed smishing scams.
- Phishing scam exploits targets’ concerns about data theft.
The Australian government reacts to Optus data breach.
The aftereffects of the massive cyberattack on Australian mobile service giant Optus continue to ripple through the country. A hacker who claims to be connected to the breach has released two databases-worth of information he allegedly stole during the attack, and the compromised data include 2.8 million customers’ passport or driving license numbers. Naked Security notes that the Australian government is advising victims to replace their affected documents, with such a large number of victims, and the total document renewal charges could amount to hundreds of millions of dollars.
Yahoo reports that some opposition lawmakers have been calling for the government to cover the costs, but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese disagrees. “We believe that Optus should pay, not taxpayers,” Albanese told Parliament. Yesterday Foreign Minister Penny Wong wrote to Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin asking the company to confirm they’ll foot the bill. “There is no justification for these Australians — or for taxpayers more broadly on their behalf — to bear the cost of obtaining a new passport,” Wong wrote. Medicare data were also found in the leaked documents, and Health Minister Mark Butler says it’s unclear whether Optus customers will require…
