Damning documents reveal Optus' failure to safely secure customer info

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Although there are 10 million reasons Optus might be worried right now, the telco giant may not be the only one to blame for the biggest data leak in recent history. 9News

The first was called the "modem" incident, which occurred when Optus changed its network between 2008 and 2009.

These two issues combined meant Optus customers who used the equipment and didn't change the default settings were left vulnerable to being hacked.Optus changed the White Pages website and due to a coding error, between February 2013 to April 2014, Optus customers who elected not to have their details listed in a telephone directory were, in fact, publicly listed.Optus incorrectly changed their preference from "no" to "yes".

The Commissioner was concerned that Optus didn't have reasonable steps in place to safeguard personal information. But for the same company to have a history of problems with securing its customers' private details, it should raise enormous alarm bells about Optus management and the Privacy watchdog, who's supposed to be protecting us all.

 

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