Major Australian health insurer Medibank was victim to yet another isolated cyber-attack earlier this month but the CEO revealed that it actually concerns the company’s entire 3.9 million customer base.
Protecting details and personal information is now more important than ever and there is precautions and steps that should be taken.
Medibank upon initial understanding believed that the data breach was involving international students however now the company has had files stolen from its main customers.
CEO, David Koczkar says, “As we continue to uncover the breadth and gravity of this crime, we recognise that these developments will be distressing for our customers, our people and the community – as it is to me.”
As the company apologised to its customers they made further developments and made the choice to approach the hack assuming that both former and current customers of Medibank have been affected.
Koczkar went on further to say that “Given the unfolding nature of the cybercrime and the complexity of the data, I’m operating under the assumption that there is a potential that all customers could be impacted.”
The extent of the hack was reported to the ASX (Australian Securities Exchange) was at least 200GB data including names, addresses, dates of birth, phone numbers, medical clams, locations of medical services and more.
Plans from the cybercriminal are understood to be utilising a high-level access company member as a door into extracting customer’s data and details from the Medibank systems. The household name health insurer confirmed that they have made contact with the hacker but did not disclose if demands were made for money.
Medibank are assisting everyone on securing their information once again and contacting individuals who have been confirmed as compromised as well as offering all of its customers mental wellbeing support and access to specialist protection advice with IDCare.
Along with delaying increasing premium insurance cost until next year they are also directly offering “hardship packages” and identity monitoring free of charge. They are advising that customers are to avoid scam text messages and emails that are piggybacking off the cybersecurity attack requesting passwords.
Customers can continue to use Medibank’s services but the damage from the hack is expected to grow. The Australian Federal Police continue to mount their investigation of this arguably irreparable act.
For tips on protecting you and your family against cybercrime have a look at our 10 ways to prevent online scams.
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