Astro customers’ MyKad data got compromised due to a data breach

Astro Malaysia Holdings, the satellite TV (television) operator, has again suffered from a data breach last month (i.e. in August 2019). This is second data breach that is afflicting Astro in the past 18 months.

Astro Malaysia Holdings has suffered from the latest data breach incident when the hackers were able to gain unauthorized access to their customers' MyKad data. The compromised information contains customers' MyKad data like names, addresses, dates of birth, race, gender, and NRIC numbers. As per the notice published by Astro, the company has assured that financial data of their customers have not been disclosed in this hack.

The company has also confirmed that total number of impacted individuals from this incident remain at only 0.2%.

Once the incident was discovered, Astro has responded quickly and the unauthorized access was stopped. In addition, the company has immediately sought to inform the affected customers whose information got breached.

To address this situation, the organization has reported this incident to authorities and has been working closely with them. These entities include the local police, Department of Personal Data Protection, and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.

With series of investigations getting spearheaded by the authorities, Astro said that they can't comment on this issue. Apart from investigations, the media group also has taken necessary steps for strengthening their security and avoids this kind of incidents from taking place in future.

"We are not able to comment on the incident to facilitate ongoing police investigations. We take the protection of our customers' personal information seriously and have taken steps to enhance and further strengthen our security," said Astro in a notice that was published on their website. The company also said in the notice that "Astro regrets any concern or inconvenience this may have caused. We will continue to be vigilant in protecting our customers' data".

In June 2018, Astro said that around 60,000 Astro Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) customers' details that have been specifically provisioned by the Maxis Broadband Sdn Bhd got leaked. Customer details like names, IC numbers, installation addresses, equipment and the portal ID numbers, mobile numbers, as well as the information on subscribed packages have been compromised.

» SPAMfighter News - 9/10/2019