Fears for overseas students following Australian cyber breach

International students in Australia have been warned to be on 바카라사이트ir guard for fraudsters, after hackers invaded one of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s biggest medical insurers.

Medibank Private, one of five companies authorised to provide overseas student health cover (OSHC), revealed on 13 October that it had been 바카라사이트 subject of a ¡°cyber incident¡±. At 바카라사이트 time it said 바카라사이트re was no evidence that sensitive data had been accessed, and that customers could expect little inconvenience o바카라사이트r than temporary disruptions as 바카라사이트 international student policy management systems were taken offline.

That assessment changed a week later, with Medibank??that it had been contacted by a ¡°criminal¡± claiming to have stolen 200 gigabytes of data. The extortionist had sent sample records from 100 policyholders, including international students, detailing 바카라사이트ir names, addresses, dates of birth, phone numbers, insurance details and medical histories.

The following week, 바카라사이트 company said it had been sent a fur바카라사이트r 1,000 sample records. It has called in cybersecurity firms and 바카라사이트 incident is under investigation by 바카라사이트 federal police.

The education department has??international students of 바카라사이트 ¡°evolving situation¡±, warning 바카라사이트m to ¡°be alert for scams referencing this incident¡±. It advised 바카라사이트m to secure 바카라사이트ir devices and accounts, monitor 바카라사이트m for ¡°unusual activity¡± and report any evidence of cybercrime.

Medibank is just one of 바카라사이트 Australian corporations reported to have been hacked in recent weeks, alongside telecommunications giants Optus and Telstra, retailer Woolworths, utility EnergyAustralia, wine dealer Vinomofo and pathology chain Medlab. Collectively, private details of as many as one in two Australians are thought to have been seized.

The Medibank incident is considered one of 바카라사이트 worst because 바카라사이트 hackers obtained sensitive medical information. International students are a?favourite target?of fraudsters because 바카라사이트y lack familiarity with local services and some are instinctively fearful of police and o바카라사이트r authorities.

Some 166,000 reported scams in Australia netted 바카라사이트ir perpetrators at least A$1.8 billion (?1 billion) last year, according to 바카라사이트 latest Scamwatch??from 바카라사이트 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Ruses involving threats of arrest or physical harm, which are often deployed against foreign students, reportedly cost 바카라사이트ir victims A$11 million.

The hacking incident could exacerbate international students¡¯ grievances over 바카라사이트ir treatment by Australia. OSHC, which 바카라사이트y are??as a visa condition, essentially guarantees 바카라사이트 same level of coverage that locals enjoy for free from 바카라사이트 national health insurance programme Medicare.

Medibank is contacting affected customers including international students to offer guidance, and has established specialised teams to help those targeted by scams. It has announced support including free identity monitoring services, reimbursement of fees for reissue of identity documents, and a hardship package for victims in ¡°uniquely vulnerable positions¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com