Optus hacker: The Latest News, Reality, Furious Demands – 2022: Following the company’s data breach, there are strong calls for the telecom to cover customers’ costs of updating ID documents.
Optus is under pressure to cover the cost of new ID documents as millions of Australians replace passports and driver’s licenses after hackers stole their personal information.
The federal government and states are among those calling on Optus to cover the costs of a replacement passport, which costs $193.
“Any cost associated with replacing documents – frankly, I’ve been quite adamant about this – if Optus has done the wrong thing, it shouldn’t be customers or the Commonwealth government or any other government bearing the cost of what is at its heart a fault, a problem, a mistake, a blunder by Optus,” Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones said on Sky News.
The Coalition has called on Labor to issue new passports to hacking victims, claiming that charging customers is “not good enough.”
“Australians whose passport numbers have been compromised are currently being told on their website by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade that ‘if you choose to replace your passport, you’ll have to pay,’ and that ‘we weren’t responsible for the data breach,” Opposition Cyber Security Minister Senator James Paterson said in a joint statement with Opposition Foreign Affairs Minister Senator Simon Birmingham.
“While Optus must accept responsibility for what may be Australia’s largest data breach in history, the Albanese Government must assist Australians in taking steps to protect their personal information and security.”
Optus is currently collaborating with state governments to provide replacement documents for those affected, and it will offer credit to NSW customers who need to replace their driver’s license.
The federal government is also looking into providing replacement Medicare numbers to some Australians, with Health Minister Mark Butler saying the Commonwealth was “furious” Optus had taken days to notify it about the problem.
“We were not notified that, in addition to passport and driver’s license information, Medicare information had been compromised,” he told ABC Radio.
Optus hacker: The Latest News, Furious Demands – 2022
Optus hacker: The Latest News
“Obviously, we’re concerned about the loss of this data, and we’re working hard to deal with the consequences.”
Customers of Optus who have had their driver’s license data compromised as a result of the recent cyberattack on the telecommunications giant have been given a path forward by various state governments.
The cyberattack exposed the personal information of nearly 10 million Australians, including passport numbers, addresses, and birth dates.
To determine the circumstances surrounding the attack, the federal government is collaborating with the Australian Federal Police and is now consulting with the FBI.
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AUSTRALIA’S WEST
WA is the latest state to confirm that residents affected by the data breach will receive a new license number free of charge.
WA was previously the only state that required people to keep their license numbers for life, regardless of whether they were used by scammers.
That will now change as a result of the cyber attack, according to WA Premier Mark McGowan.
“People have lost their driver’s licenses and identities through no fault of their own,” he explained. “We’ll provide a new driver’s license with a new number as soon as we can get the system up and running.”
THE NEW SOUTH WALES
The NSW government has issued instructions for customers to apply for a replacement driver’s license, with Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello confirming Optus will notify customers if their license number was stolen in the hack in the coming days.
To apply, residents with digital driver’s licenses should go to the Service NSW app, where an interim card number, which can be used in place of a plastic license card, will be issued instantly.
Optus hacker: The Latest News
Within 10 business days, a new plastic license card will be issued and mailed to the resident’s address.
Those who apply for a new card must pay the $29 replacement fee, but “reimbursement advice will be issued to customers by Optus in the coming days,” according to Mr. Dominello.
Optus hacker: The Latest News
On Twitter, the minister apologized for taking “several days to reach this landing.”
“People are understandably stressed, and they require a path forward,” he said on Tuesday.
“Optus is conducting forensic analysis to determine the exact number of customers affected – as well as the type of information compromised in each case,” Mr. Dominello said.
He stated that the government had established “ID Support NSW,” to which people could turn for assistance in replacing their identity documents.
Those who require assistance in replacing identity documents or advice on preventive measures are encouraged to call ID Support at 1800 001 040.
Optus customers, both current and former, have been warned of an increased risk of scams, and the federal government has urged Australians not to click on any suspicious links.
QUEENSLAND
Transport and Roads Queensland will provide free replacement licenses to residents affected by the hack.
“We’ve heard from a lot of people who are concerned, so we’re giving people the opportunity to obtain a new license,” Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Twitter.
The decision was made by the state’s Transportation Department in response to customer requests to change their information in order to protect their identities.
The state has yet to specify how residents can obtain the new license, but those who are interested can call (07) 3097 3108 for assistance.
VICTORIA
Victims of the Optus hacker will be eligible for a free new driver’s license.
The state government announced the decision on Tuesday evening and expects Optus to cover the costs.
Those who have been notified by Optus that their data has been compromised as a result of the breach can also contact VicRoads to have their license record flagged.
VicRoads said in a statement, “By flagging records, the Department of Transport will prevent any unauthorized changes or access to individual information through the Victorian license database.”
“However, it will not prevent people from using license information in third-party applications such as applying for bank accounts or any other circumstance that requires a driver’s license as a form of ID.”
Conclusion
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