Three Victorian water companies customers’ private details leaked
Thousands of Victorians have had their private details breached in a research bungle by three water companies.
VIC News
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Thousands of Victorians have had their private details breached in a research bungle by three water companies.
About 4000 South East Water, City West Water and Yarra Valley Water customers have had sensitive details leaked including their names, postal addresses, phone numbers and email addresses.
The data breach involved third party research company Metrix Consulting, who the water companies engage for “joint customer research”.
A staffer’s email had been hacked in a phishing scam but the company was unaware if and where the data has been leaked.
South East Water spokeswoman Mikala Hehir said the company was “very sorry” but all customers caught up in the breach had already been notified.
“We understand our responsibility to protect our customers’ information and we take this responsibility extremely seriously,” Ms Hehir said.
“In this case, the personal information we shared was part of a recent research project to find
out what services our customers would like from us in the future.”
One customer caught up in the bungle, who wished to remain anonymous, said the breach was a “real nuisance”, forcing him to change internet banking passwords and pins.
“I’m angry they are selling people’s private information, the government should halt this ridiculous situation,” he said.
“We changed all our details, it would be foolish not to.”
The companies assured no financial details, credit card or driver’s licences information were leaked.
Futurist Steve Sammartino said most consumers signed over access to their personal information by agreeing to terms and conditions they did not read but the law needed to catch up with technology.
“We don’t get a choice with utility service providers to opt out, in this data and digital economy opting out to hand our information over isn’t an option,” Mr Sammartino said.
“The law needs to be more transparent, Ts and Cs need to be short and clear so people can understand them.”
Mr Sammartino said personal data was becoming an extremely valuable commodity for all businesses.
“Once your personal information is leaked, the problem is it is leaked forever,” he said.
“The more information criminals have about you, it is a jigsaw puzzle, the easier they can partake in identity theft.”