A Report on Data Breaches in Australia

In Australia, twenty percent of the entire Notifiable Data Breaches during the period July-September occurred due to online phishing, with private health continuing to be the most hacked sector in the continent.

A total of 245 notifications of data breaches were reported to OAIC (Office of Australian Information Commissioner) for the above stated months. This included a rise of 3 breaches, while 2 breaches affected 100,000-250,000 people that were the most notified. People affected most frequently comprised 100-1,000 in number, with 65 hacks notified, then further 58 hacks targeting single individuals, followed with 53 hacks targeting 11-100 people.

Angelene Falk, Australian Information Commissioner and Privacy Commissioner suggests that every person who has access to personal information on job requires understanding the various ways data breaches may take place so there can be joint effort towards their prevention.

According to the OAIC, the maximum number of hacks involved contact details about individuals; although in the 3 months the Office as well got notifications about hacks pertaining to health information and financial details.

Cyber breaches through Internet related phishing were most common, the OAIC disclosed. The subsequent dual greatest forms of breaches occurred for credentials wherein 19% of online breaches occurred for compromised or stolen credentials utilizing certain unknown mediums, whilst 12% of breaches occurred through brute-force assaults. A total of 8% of breaches was attributed to hacking, as ransomware and other malware were used in 3% of the breaches.

Organizations within management, accounting and legal services encountered breaches by the maximum number occurring from sinister cyber operations. Next in line were financial companies as well as providers of health services. Sector wise, private health companies accounted for 45 reported breaches, then finance related organizations accounted for 35 reported breaches, and management, accounting and legal service division accounted for 34 reported breaches. Zdnet.com posted this, October 29, 2018.

In all, 4 breaches occurred because of lack of storage device or improper paperwork, dispatching private data to incorrect recipient through electronic mail, dispatching similar data to incorrect recipient through post, as well as illegitimate divulging because of unintended posting of data online, and 4 breaches because of phishing assaults.

» SPAMfighter News - 10/31/2018