Optus Data Breach: 11 Million Customers Affected, USD1M Ransom Demand
Optus is grappling with Australia's worst data breach, affecting over 11 million customers. The cyberattack has led to a USD1 million ransom demand, with individual customer data valued at USD150,000 to USD200,000. The hacker, known as 'Optusdata', claims to have data of 11.2 million Optus customers and 3.66 million driving licence numbers.
The breach occurred when the hacker exploited an exposed API at Optus, systematically downloading customer data. Optus is currently investigating the legitimacy of the sample customer data posted online. Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil is preparing reforms to allow companies to quickly notify financial institutions in case of sensitive customer data theft. Optus, however, argued against giving customers more control over their data during a 2020 review of the Privacy Act.
Optusdata has posted on a dark web forum, detailing the extent of the customer data breach. The company is now facing a USD1 million ransom demand, with Optusdata threatening to sell the customer data if not paid.
The cyberattack on Optus is a significant blow to customer trust and data security. As the investigation continues, the Australian government is stepping in to improve customer data protection. Optus, for its part, is working to mitigate the damage and prevent future customer data breaches.
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