March saw a concerning increase in cyberattacks on government services like Ambulance Victoria and the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), and trusted brands like Sydney Tools, Nine Newspaper, 13Cabs and Vroom. With sensitive data exposed and essential services disrupted, the rise in cyberattacks is raising serious concerns about security, trust, and how consumers can protect themselves.

Sydney Tools

One of Australia’s largest tooling stores recently had a mind blowing 34 million online orders and 5,000 current and former employee records exposed. The compromised database contains full names, email addresses, phone numbers, home addresses, and order details of customers. It also includes employee salaries, sales targets, and branch locations. Given the nature of the breach, we expect to see a rapid increase in identity theft, phishing attacked and potentially even physical theft

Ambulance Victoria

Ambulance Victoria found itself under attack when a former employee allegedly accessed and stole personal and financial data of up to 3,000 staff members. Among the stolen data were sensitive details like bank accounts, tax numbers, and other personal information. This breach is particularly alarming because it involved an insider threat, with the attacker still having access to sensitive systems even after leaving the company. Authorities are investigating the incident, and employees affected by the breach have been urged to monitor their accounts for unusual activity.

Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ)

Approximately 9,000 sensitive court files were leaked from the New South Wales (NSW) court system, including critical documents such AVOs and affidavits. The leak was traced to a security vulnerability within the court registry’s online system, which exposed a large amount of personal and legal information. The files that contained highly confidential data were made available to unauthorised individuals, posing a serious privacy threat. As a result, NSW authorities have taken the system offline, initiated an investigation, and are assessing the scale of the damage.

Tips to Stay Safe

• Use strong, unique passwords: Avoid reusing passwords and combine letters, numbers, and special characters.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): Add an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification step.
• Monitor your accounts: Regularly check bank and credit card statements for suspicious activity.
• Update software regularly: Keep devices and software up to date with the latest security patches.
• Be cautious with personal information: Carefully consider what information you share online and with whom.

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