Shocking number of Aussies exposed to hacks according to new research

The true extent of hacks like the recent Optus and Medibank cyber attacks has been revealed through new research.

One in three Australians have had their data exposed through cyber attacks in the past year, a new study has revealed.

A survey of nearly 3,500 adults by the Australian National University found 32.1 per cent of adults said that they or a member of their household had been the victim of a data breach.

The data of almost 10 million Optus customers was accessed by hackers in September, with thousands having passport, drivers licence and Medicare numbers stolen in the attack.

The Optus data hack saw the data of nearly 10 million Australians accessed by scammers. Picture: Brendon Thorne / Getty Images

The Medibank attack involved the data of 9.7 million people – including current and former customers and some representatives – being accessed, including names, dates of birth, phone numbers, home addresses and emails.

That figure includes 5.1 million Medibank customers, 2.8 million ahm customers and 1.8 million international customers.

Cyberattacks are one of the fastest-growing types of crime Australians are facing, according to the study’s co-author, Professor Nicholas Biddle.

“Roughly one-third of adult Australians, or around 6.4 million people, have been the victim of a breach in the last 12 months,” Professor Biddle, from the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods, said.

Professor Biddle says ‘Australians are crying out for stronger regulation and better protection’.

“In comparison, our survey found only 11.2 per cent of Australians had been the victim of serious crimes like burglary or assault in the last five years.

“As our lives become more and more dominated by data, so too does our exposure to data-related crime. This is a serious issue that needs serious attention.”

Medibank, Australia’s largest health insurer, said on Monday it would not pay a ransom demand for the data breach after the hacker threatened to release the health records of 1000 people if funds were not paid.

5.1 million Medibank customers, 2.8 million ahm customers and 1.8 million international customers had their data accessed. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Paul Jeffers

The ANU study also found the vast majority of Australians do not think companies are doing enough to protect customers’ data.

“Almost all Australian adults, 96.2 per cent, said companies that do not adequately protect consumer data should face significant sanctions,” Professor Biddle said.

“And 92.8 per cent of Australian adults think government regulation of new technologies is crucial for consumer protection. At the same time, 90.6 per cent think the government should regulate companies’ use of data.”

Those who had data stolen, especially those who had identification documents accessed, are at higher risk of scams and identity theft.

A Sydney teenager has been charged over an alleged attempt to scam people using information obtained from the Optus data breach.

The Australian Federal Police allege a 19-year-old Rockdale man used data from 10,200 Optus customers and began “working his way through the list” demanding $2000 payments.

“Breaches like the Optus attack clearly impact on trust in the whole system of data governance, and Australians are crying out for stronger regulation and better protection,” Professor Biddle said.

A Sydney man, 19, has been charged for allegedly attempting to misuse stolen Optus customer data in a text message blackmail scam. Picture: AFP