Australian Government Leaks Personal Data

Uploaded on 2023-08-03 in FREE TO VIEW

The Australian Department of Home Affairs has mistakenly leaked personal data from over 50 small businesses that were participants in a cyber security survey.

And the names, business names, phone numbers and emails of the participants in the survey were erroneously published on the parliament website in response to a question about a government cyber security report.

The report is part of a wider initiative that was launched in the wake of last year’s Optus and Medibank cyber attacks, two high-profiled attacks that impacted Australia significantly.

Australia’s Cyber Wardens program, which went on to receive $23.4m in the May budget, is aimed at training small businesses and the workforce to be “cyber smart” and aware of possible cyber threats.

The research report from firm 89 Degrees East was developed as part of the cyber wardens pilot program launched in the wake of last year’s Optus and Medibank cyber attacks.

The program is aimed at training small businesses and the workforce to be “cyber smart” and aware of possible cyber threats.

The Understanding Small Business and Cyber Security report which contained the personal information surveyed over 2,000 business owners and employees, and found 44% had experienced a cyber attack, with 29% saying they had experienced a cyber attack affecting their own personal information.

Those who participated in the survey and indicated they wanted to hear more about the cyber wardens program were included in the information. The information was removed from the parliament website recently.

The cyber wardens program is a Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia initiative delivered by 89 Degrees East that runs as a free online education course for small businesses to train employers and employees to protect their businesses from cyber threats, with the aim to train 50,000 “cyber wardens” over three years.

In June, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, was questioned by the opposition about the $23m grants being awarded without tender, to COSBOA, which partnered with 89 Degrees East.

The opposition had questioned whether there was a conflict of interest given 89 Degrees East lists the wife of the health minister, Mark Butler, as a senior consultant, when the money was approved by the expenditure review committee Butler sits on.

In parliament at the start of June, Butler said he had made all appropriate declarations to the prime minister as required by the ministerial code, and his wife’s contract had been mentioned, despite her contract having ended in 2021. He said that arrangements were in place to manage any potential conflicts of interest.

The Guardian: IT Security Guru: Infosecurity Magazine: TEISS: Cyber Security Connect

___________________________________________________________________________________________

If you like this website and use the comprehensive 6,500-plus service supplier Directory, you can get unrestricted access, including the exclusive in-depth Directors Report series, by signing up for a Premium Subscription.