Optus warns cyberattack may have exposed Australian client details

A woman uses her mobile phone as she walks past an Optus store in Sydney, Australia, February 8, 2018. REUTERS/Daniel Munoz/File Photo

SYDNEY, Sept 22 (Reuters) – Optus, the Australian unit of telecoms firm Singapore Telecommunications ( STEL.SI ), said it was investigating possible unauthorized access to customers’ home addresses, passport numbers and phone numbers following a cyber attack.

Wireless carrier Optus said in a statement Thursday that it stopped the attack immediately after discovering that payment details and account passwords had not been compromised.

It said it had notified the Australian Federal Police and an investigation was underway into whether information on current and former customers was accessed.

“Optus is working with the Australian Cyber ​​Security Center to minimize any risk to customers,” Optus said in a statement on its website.

Optus CEO Kelly Baer Rosemarin said, “We are devastated to discover that we have been the victim of a cyber attack that has exposed our customers’ personal information to someone who should not have seen it.”

The Australian newspaper reported that up to 9 million customers could be affected. Reuters could not verify the number and Optus did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“Optus has also notified key financial institutions about this. While we are not aware of any loss customers have experienced, we encourage customers to increase awareness across their accounts, including keeping an eye out for unusual or fraudulent activity and any notifications that appear odd or strange. Suspicious,” the Optus statement added.

Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Edited by Raju Gopalakrishnan

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