AUSTRALIA (CU)_Customers’ names, birthdates, phone numbers, and email addresses were revealed due to the incident.
The corporation, which has over ten million subscribers, claims to have stopped the attack, but not before other information, including the numbers on driver’s licenses and passports, was compromised.
Payment information and account passwords, according to Optus, were safe.
All clients should verify their accounts, the business said, adding that it would alert individuals who were at “heightened risk.”
On ABC TV, Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, the company’s CEO, expressed regret to the company’s clients.
She claimed that in addition to names, dates of birth, and contact information, the numbers from driving licenses and, “rarely,” passports and mailing addresses, had also been obtained.
The business had reported “strange activities” to the Australian Federal Police.
The goal of the investigation was to “determine who has been accessing the data and for what reason.”
Customers’ personal information is among the categories of data, according to Optus.
Names, birth dates, and phone numbers
Electronic mail addresses
Numbers on identification documents like a driver’s license or passport
“Optus is working with the Australian Cyber Security Centre to mitigate any risks to customers,” a statement on its website said.
“Optus has also notified key financial institutions about this matter.
“While we are not aware of customers having suffered any harm, we encourage customers to have heightened awareness across their accounts, including looking out for unusual or fraudulent activity and any notifications which seem odd or suspicious.”
According to Ms. Rosmarin, the business put all of its clients on high alert as a precaution, but many are now frustrated and alarmed.
Cybersecurity expert David Emm from Kaspersky told BBC News: “It’s encouraging to hear that Optus will reach out to individuals it feels are affected and that it won’t be sending emails or SMS [text] messages with messages; this lets customers know that any such messages they receive will be fraudulent.
“The fact that no payment or password information was obtained is also comforting.
“However, customers should be alert for any fraudulent activity they detect and should secure their online accounts by utilizing two-factor authentication and using unique, complicated passwords.”
