Optus hacked

[springyzone]

Is anyone here affected by the Optus hack?

We are not, but my daughter received a communication from them to say her bank details & passport details & also licence details I think, had been stolen.

The annoying thing is she is not with Optus. She has not been with Optus for almost 6 years. Why, then, do they still have all her records on file? Very annoying.

[imastawka]

We are with Optus and have been for almost 30 years.

Haven't heard anything yet, and expect to hear soon.

Don't know what info they were given to start with, and no clue what the password was originally.

We're 'ripe' for identity theft I guess.

[domino-710]

OK - so what can happen.??

A drivers licence renews with the same number each renewal - a passport doesn't - a new number is issued on renewal.

To open a bank account - is it still 10 points needed - DL - Medicare - latest utility bill - etc etc.

To use an existing bank account - passwords - signatures - and the now - sms for a new payee.

Just what can they do with information gathered from hacking.??

[imastawka]

What do hackers do with hacked accounts?

Hijack your usernames and passwords. Steal your money and open credit card and bank accounts in your name. Ruin your credit. Request new account Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) or additional credit cards.

What happens if a hacker gets your information?

Using your personal information, hackers can apply for credit card accounts, government benefits and loans in your name. Identity theft can damage your credit and inflict harm that takes years to undo.

[domino-710]

Isn't most of that done - by ' fake emails ' - fake ' Bank messages ' - ' fake everything ' - that one never clicks on - ever. ??

[countessalmirena]

Once criminals have details such as name, address, phone number, DOB, and then also D/L and/or passport, the person’s identity can be hijacked with ease.

 The victim’s phone number can be spoofed, or at worst ported. Bank accounts and loans can be opened/made in the victim’s name. Emails can be hacked with brute force password cracking; emails can be intercepted; emails set up by scammer to look like yours (very similar) can be sent to companies to redirect communications to the scammer. 

Nobody can really afford to be complacent. I think of myself as reasonably au fait and unlikely to fall for a scam, but I have become more and more aware that that doesn’t protect me perfectly, and that anyone can become a victim of some very sophisticated identity theft methods. I’m almost certainly not as savvy as I’d like to think. Darn it.

[nicnacs_4u]

All good here!

[domino-710]

---

@countessalmirena wrote:

Once criminals have details such as name, address, phone number, DOB, and then also D/L and/or passport, the person’s identity can be hijacked with ease.

 The victim’s phone number can be spoofed, or at worst ported. Bank accounts and loans can be opened/made in the victim’s name. Emails can be hacked with brute force password cracking; emails can be intercepted; emails set up by scammer to look like yours (very similar) can be sent to companies to redirect communications to the scammer. 

Nobody can really afford to be complacent. I think of myself as reasonably au fait and unlikely to fall for a scam, but I have become more and more aware that that doesn’t protect me perfectly, and that anyone can become a victim of some very sophisticated identity theft methods. I’m almost certainly not as savvy as I’d like to think. Darn it.

---

Several reasons not to connect to the internet on a phone.

Why the need??

[imastawka]

So, I got an email from Optus.

In amongst all the gobbledegook, was this paragraph -

No financial information or passwords have been accessed......No ID document numbers or details have been affected.

It then goes on to warn about scams and phishing emails and what to look for.

Several reasons not to connect to the internet on a phone

Not been out to a restaurant for a while?  They have a QR code for the menu on the table these days, to order and pay.  Well, most do here in Melbourne.

Sooo much easier

Other than that, lots of reasons to have the internet on your mobile.

Made no difference to the hackers - phone or no phone.

[*sons_and_daughters*]

---

---

Several reasons not to connect to the internet on a phone.

Why the need??

---

For plenty of people these days, including several of my friends (aged 50's, 60s, and 70s) and work colleagues, they don't have a landline, let alone a laptop or desktop computer. For those people, their phone is their only connection to the internet. One of my friend's daughter (age 12) has to do some homework online. Her only way is via internet on the phone (her mother's) because they don't have a landline or a computer. I know, the absolute HORROR! There have been times they have come here to use my laptop because she can't do what she needs to on a phone.

Just because you and I may have a laptop, or landline phone, doesn't mean everyone does. My landline doesn't have a phone connected to it. It's there purely for internet. I'm sure my landline gets spammed to the hilt. I don't care, because I never check it.

For many people, an internet connection on a phone is essential. It's not all about updating Facebook or Instagram. Sadly, schools and what not have made a connection essential.