🗞️Cyber Attack Hits MediSecure: User Data at Risk

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The national cyber security coordinator announced on Thursday that a large-scale ransomware data breach had affected a health organisation. The Evening Post AU can confirm this. The health organisation is MediSecure. A statement from MediSecure stating that it has discovered a cyber security incident affecting "the personal and health information of individuals" has been posted after the company's website was taken down.

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Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil stated that updates would be given in "due course" and that the government had called a meeting of the National Coordination Mechanism on the subject.

“I have been briefed on this incident in recent days and the government convened a National Coordination Mechanism regarding this matter today.” She said.

The ACCC authorised MediSecure to transfer all electronically funded prescriptions and data to eRx in October of last year. At the time, MediSecure declared that it would continue to offer private prescriptions. What information has been compromised and for how long is unknown. It was not possible to reach the company today. Michelle McGuinness, the national coordinator for cyber security, had earlier declined to identify the affected company.

Meanwhile, Monash University Professor Nigel Phair, Department of Software Systems & Cybersecurity, Faculty of Information Technology said the news of another healthcare-related organisation encountering a cyber attack and subsequent ransom demand will be troubling for many Australians.

“We have learnt from other major cyber attacks against Australian organisations which hold the personal identities of Australians that the after effects are major and ongoing.”

He said There is nothing more serious nor sensitive than having health data exposed, let’s hope this organisation can work with the Australian government and appropriate service providers to limit any damage which may come from this matter.

“This cyber attack is a reminder to all organisations which hold personal information to redouble their risk management activities to ensure they are only collecting, storing and using the bare minimum required.” He added.

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