Australian Cyber Aware – As It Was 2607 – July 2026
This monthly review provides a curated summary of Australian and New Zealand cyber, AI, privacy, and information security developments identified during July 2026. It includes a cross-section of incidents, regulatory updates, audit findings, and broader industry news relevant to business and government audiences.
The content is independently sourced from publicly available reports and government publications to support internal awareness and risk-informed decision-making. This report is free to use within organisations for awareness and education purposes; however, the “collection” remains the intellectual property of Australian Cyber Aware and must not be reproduced, redistributed, or republished without permission.
This post may be updated as more news or reports are discovered. The latest version can be accessed via the Australian Cyber Aware website.
Commentary July 2026:
With tax returns lodged and the new financial year underway, July started quietly on the cyber front but quickly gathered pace, with plenty of media coverage across incidents, privacy concerns, regulatory action and government audit findings. These are the stories that stood out to me this month.
Pick of the Month.
“AI-Assisted Medical Note-taking”: This story did not get the level of attention I think it deserved. AI scribes in doctor’s clinics spark privacy concerns | 7NEWS covered doctors using AI tools to capture patient notes during consultations. It is a useful application of the technology, but it also raises important questions about how consultation conversations are captured, processed and used by the underlying AI systems — not just the final transcribed notes. The report also noted that one patient was refused a consultation after declining to have AI take notes. I think I will be asking my GP for their updated privacy statement from thier vendor.Incidents
Easy picks this month with Telstra and Origin getting plenty of international and national coverage.
- Telstra mobile network hit by significant outage. At the end of the day, the assessment of risk and the cost of not replacing legacy hardware bit very hard, and a few rumours about CEO’s not publically get out in front early of high-profile breaches; I feel sorry for the CFO.
- Origin Energy investigating ‘potential’ customer data breach. I sure more will come to light on this, but two early observations are that the breach notification was not escalated within the organisation, and CEO’s need to be on top of the incident, difficult interview Origin CEO apologises, says company has changed security settings after data breach | The Business.
- Just to drive home the insider threat from last month, we had Cult survivors fearful after inquiry shares email addresses of those who made anonymous submissions, SA Health staff investigated after AFL icon records breach | 7NEWS and NSW Cybercrime Squad charges nurse over alleged data breach.
Judgements and Findings
OAIC releases findings from Qantas hack investigation, privacy watchdog urges no further investigation but the ACMA to sue Optus in Federal Court over 2025 network outage, I’m taking bets that Telstra will be next on the stand.Government Audits
After the June 30 deadline rush of reports, only one relevant report has been issued. The Northern Territory Auditor-General’s Office released Results of Financial Audits – 30 June and 31 December 2025 reports. No real surprises here; the same old adverse findings against User Access Control (user deprovisioning and privilege access management). I’m still amazed how we keep getting the basics of UAC wrong.Standards and Regulation
Guidance from ASD to critical infrastructure ops: be ready to isolate systems for three months. The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) has released detailed technical guidance instructing critical infrastructure operators on how to fully separate operational technology and “vital enabling” systems from the outside world when crisis or conflict strikes. Also, the OAIC released Privacy Commissioner publishes updated guidance on facial recognition in retail spaces.Next month, implementing new features to Australian Cyber Aware site will be paused for a while; updates will continue as I finish establishing partnerships and training with selected GRC Tool providers. These tools are mature and priced in a way that makes it difficult to justify not moving beyond spreadsheets to manage your ISMS or Risk Management systems.
Please feel free to comment and provide suggestions.
Publicly Reported Incidents for June 2026
Claim Status: Confirmed = Acknowledged by organisation/public statement/regulator | Published = Published in mainstream or reputable media | Claim = Leak-site claim only, unverified | Withdrawn = The claim has been withdrawn | Denied = The victim has formally denied the claim | Unknown = No corroborating evidence has been found
NOTE: Claimed, withdrawn, denied, and unknown listings may be extortion events with no factual basis to believe that an actual incident occurred.
Published 31-Jul-26 AU TAS
Exclusive: Tasmania’s Contact Group allegedly suffers cyber attack
Tasmanian multi-technology and building services firm, Contact Group, was listed on the dark web leak site of the CMD Organisation hacking group, which has put the allegedly stolen data up for auction.
Claim 30-Jul-26 NZ
[Unconfirmed] Ransomware group Kairos claim New Zealand company Warwick Fabrics breached.
Warwick Fabrics — an organisation based in New Zealand — has been listed by threat actor Kairos. This data breach was discovered on 30 July 2026. No evidence has been sighted, and no details of any data exfiltrated.
Confirmed 30-Jul-26 AU VIC
Exclusive: Court Services Victoria confirms data breach following hacker claims
Court Services Victoria has confirmed it is responding to a “data security incident” after a prolific hacker published a raft of case-related data to a popular underground hacking forum.
Confirmed 29-Jul-26 AU NSW
NSW Cybercrime Squad charges nurse over alleged data breach
A 59-year-old male nurse employed by NSW Health has been charged following an NSW Police investigation into an alleged data breach involving patient information.
Published 27-Jul-26 AU WA
Exclusive: Australian mining firm West African Resources suffers alleged data breach
The Deadlock ransomware group claims to have hacked the Western Australian-based company West African Resources (WAF) in a leak post dated 26 July.
Confirmed 27-Jul-26 AU VIC
Exclusive: Aussie unmanned systems firm CubePilot boss warns of ‘security incident’
CubePilot, an Australian maker of hardware and embedded software for the civilian unmanned systems industry has warned its customers that some of its systems are offline while they are investigating a “security incident”.
Confirmed 24-Jul-26 AU
SA Health staff investigated after AFL icon records breach | 7NEWS
The South Australian Health system is accused of having a sticky beak culture with Tony Modra becoming the latest high-profile identity to have his privacy breached.
Claim 24-Jul-26 AU QLD
[Unconfirmed] Ransomware Group m3rx Hits AusProof
The ransomware group m3rx has claimed to have exfiltrated approximately 460 GB of corporate data from AusProof, which includes around 373,495 files.
Claim 23-Jul-26 AU VIC
Exclusive: Victorian heritage and restoration firm listed by The Gentlemen ransomware group
A highly active cyber extortion group claims hack of Australian HBS Group, and data is set to be published within seven days.
Confirmed 23-Jul-26 AU VIC
Exclusive: Aussie property management firm confirms customer data safe following hack claims
Threat actor Kairos, has claimed a cyber attack on a Melbourne-based property management firm LR Reed, having allegedly stolen data from the company.
Claim 22-Jul-26 NZ
[Unconfirmed] Threat actor m3rx has claimed responsibility for a cyberattack against New Zealand-based UB Freight
The ransomware group m3rx has claimed responsibility for a cyberattack against UB Freight, a key player in New Zealand’s logistics industry. The attack, which was discovered on July 22, 2026, disrupts operations and threatens the integrity of sensitive data.
Confirmed 22-Jul-26 AU NSW
Origin Energy investigating ‘potential’ customer data breach
One of Australia’s largest energy companies, Origin Energy, says it is investigating a security breach that “may have” affected customer data.
Claim 21-Jul-26 AU VIC
[Unconfirm] Settra Ransomware Gang Claims Data Theft at Australian Collectables Retailer Downies
Ransomware group Settra publicly claimed Downies Collectables as a victim, alleging exfiltration of 550 GB of internal business data, published sample data, and a published ransom deadline.
Confirmed 21-Jul-26 AU QLD
GO2 Health medical clinic in Brisbane waited almost three months to alert patients it was hacked
GO2 Health, a medical clinic in Everton Park, Brisbane, was targeted by hackers in April 2026 through a phishing attack that accessed the clinic’s main email inbox.
Published 21-Jul-26 AU NSW
Exclusive: NSW accounting and advisory firm allegedly hit by SafePay ransomware
AC Small Maxwell & Co was listed on the dark web leak site of the SafePay ransomware gang, which set the date for the release of the allegedly stolen data to just over two days from the time of writing.
Confirmed 15-Jul-26 AU SA
Medical records and personal details stolen in GP network cyber attack
Partnered Health, a network of GP clinics across the country has been hit in a cyber attack, with sensitive medical records and personal information stolen.. Company statement – https://partneredhealth.com.au/partnered-health-recent-cyber-incident/
Confirmed 14-Jul-26 AU ACT
Lifeline Australia confirms staff data compromised following hacking claims
Aussie suicide-prevention charity Lifeline has confirmed it was the victim of a data breach by threat actor 2019, after details of the incident were posted to a popular underground hacking forum.
Published 13-Jul-26 AU NSW
Exclusive: Prolific hacker 2019 selling alleged Hot Toner Australia customer data online
The threat actor, who calls themselves 2019, posted details of data they allege was stolen from Hot Toner Australia, a company that specialises in printer consumables.
Confirmed 10-Jul-26 AU QLD
Hacked! Royal Foods confirms cyber incident following The Gentlemen ransomware claims
“Royal Foods is investigating a recent incident in which an unauthorised third party accessed elements of our internal IT environment associated with administrative functions,” the spokesperson said.
The Gentlemen shared no other details regarding the data allegedly breached, nor its volume.
Published 11-Jul-26 AU WA
Ransomware group Dragonforce hits Western Australian company Access Group Hire
Dragonforce have claimed to have breached equipment hire firm Access Hire Australia. Publishing a limited set of data showing invoices, customer credit checks and customer hire list.
Confirmed 08-Jul-26 AU
Telstra mobile network hit by significant outage
Telstra’s mobile network is experiencing a large-scale outage impacting voice and data services on Wednesday, with users finding their phones in SOS mode. Company Updates – Our recent mobile network outage has been resolved: here’s what happened
Claim 02-Jul-26 AU NSW
Unconfirmed: Qilin Ransomware Strikes Pennant Hills Golf Club
A newly surfaced victim listing naming Pennant Hills Golf Club shows how ransomware operators turn public exposure into pressure, even when the underlying compromise has not been independently established.
Government Audit Reports Australia July 2026
22-Jul-26 AU NT
NTAGO Multiple Agencies
Results of Financial Audits – 30 June and 31 December 2025
Results of financial audits for Charles Darwin University, Menzies School of Health Research, Batchelor Institute, National Park Boards, Territory Wildlife Parks, Northern Territory Police Supplementary Benefit Scheme.
Key finding: Strong audit outcomes for the public tertiary sector; however, timeliness and control weaknesses require continued attention. Recurring weaknesses in information technology user access controls remain a common theme.
Cyber News of Australia July 2026
Sat, 01 Aug 2026
The life of an information security chief just got a lot faster
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Sat, 01 Aug 2026
Privacy Commissioner publishes updated guidance on facial recognition in retail spaces
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has published updates to its guidance for Australian Privacy Principle (APP) entities …
Sat, 01 Aug 2026
In brief: cyberthreat detection and reporting in Australia
Threat detection and reporting Internal policies and procedures What policies or procedures must organisations have in place to protect data or …
Fri, 31 Jul 2026
Data breach notifications reach record levels: Lessons for the future
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) received 1,205 data breach notifications in 2025, the highest number since Australia’s …
Fri, 31 Jul 2026
Australian insurance industry regulators signal that AI, cyber resilience and privacy are now board : Clyde & Co
This synchronised approach to AI risks from the various Australian regulators was built upon by the Australian Government’s announcement in mid-July …
Fri, 31 Jul 2026
Qantas passes the OAIC’s preliminary data breach test: what helped and what organisations should be doing now
Key takeaways Despite a data breach affecting approximately 5.12 million Australians, the OAIC declined to open a formal investigation into Qantas, …
Thu, 30 Jul 2026
Exclusive: Court Services Victoria confirms data breach following hacker claims
Almost 30,000 lines of court data have potentially been compromised in a breach carried out by a prominent hacker, 2019. • Thu, 30 Jul 2026 • …
Fri, 31 Jul 2026
Exclusive: Tasmania’s Contact Group allegedly suffers cyber attack
Threat actors have claimed a cyber attack on a Tasmanian multi-technology and building services firm and are now auctioning allegedly stolen data to …
Fri, 31 Jul 2026
Report: Nearly half of Australians experienced cyber crime in 2025
The latest Australian Cybercrime Survey shows overall victimisation has fallen slightly, but online scams continue to rise while most incidents …
Thu, 30 Jul 2026
Cult survivors fearful after inquiry shares email addresses of those who made anonymous submissions
Abuse survivors who gave evidence to a Victorian parliamentary inquiry into cults and fringe groups say they feel exposed after their email addresses …
Thu, 30 Jul 2026
VIDEO: AI scribes in doctor’s clinics spark privacy concerns | 7NEWS
Artificial intelligence is being used in more than half of Australian GP clinics to transcribe medical consultations and generate clinical notes, raising concerns about patient privacy and data protection. A new report warns the technology is advancing too quickly, with instances of patients being refused appointments for declining AI recording. The Australian Medical Association maintains that doctors retain final authority over medical records, though both critics and medical professionals agree stronger regulations are needed to protect patient privacy and trust.
Thu, 30 Jul 2026
VIDEO: ACMA to sue Optus in Federal Court over Triple 0 network outage | ABC NEWS
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has commenced proceedings against Optus Mobile in the Federal Court for their 18 September 2025 network outage. This outage hindered Optus mobile users accessing emergency call services. ACMA alleges Optus breached two legal obligations more than 1,000 times during this outage. In a statement, an Optus spokesperson said it would not be appropriate to comment on the legal proceedings, but the telco remained focused on “building a stronger and better Optus”.
Thu, 30 Jul 2026
Origin opposed tougher cyber rules before massive breach
Origin Energy executives argued against tougher new cybersecurity obligations earlier this year, labelling proposed changes to critical …
Thu, 30 Jul 2026
ACMA to sue Optus in Federal Court over 2025 network outage
The nation’s second largest telco, Optus, is being sued in the Federal Court over last year’s major network outage in which calls failed to reach …
Wed, 29 Jul 2026
NSW Cybercrime Squad charges nurse over alleged data breach
An NSW Health employee has been charged after reports of accessing and downloading patient data without permission. • Wed, 29 Jul 2026 • …
Tue, 28 Jul 2026
AFL clubs explore facial recognition as new ticketing method
Your face could be your next big ticket. With a scan of it, you could be granted entry to AFL games, concerts or even conferences. Facial recognition …
Tue, 28 Jul 2026
Legacy technology is a national security threat hiding in plain sight | The Strategist
The problem with legacy technology is not that organisations do not know the risks. It is that no mechanism forces a decision. Ownership is …
Tue, 28 Jul 2026
VIDEO: Origin CEO apologises, says company has changed security settings after data breach | The Business
Origin Energy believes the information of approximately 900,000 current and former customers was accessed during a recent data security breach. The energy provider confirmed it first became aware of a potential security threat in early July but initially did not believe it was credible.
Tue, 28 Jul 2026
ASD to critical infrastructure ops: be ready to isolate systems for three months
The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) has released detailed technical guidance instructing critical infrastructure operators on how to fully …
Tue, 28 Jul 2026
Origin Energy believes 900,000 customers’ data accessed in breach
Origin Energy believes the information of approximately 900,000 current and former customers was accessed during a recent data security breach. The …
Mon, 27 Jul 2026
VIDEO: Facial recognition trial sparks privacy debate | 7NEWS
Western Australian police have begun trialling live facial recognition cameras that match faces in crowds to police databases in real time, raising privacy and human rights concerns. New South Wales is also introducing laws to give police greater access to surveillance tools. The discussion also covers wealthy American families paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to outsource parenting duties to teams of helpers, and the phenomenon of post-gossip clarity.
Mon, 27 Jul 2026
VIDEO: SA Health staff investigated after AFL icon records breach | 7NEWS
The South Australian health system is accused of having a sticky beak culture with Tony Modra becoming the latest high-profile identity to have his privacy breached. 7NEWS can reveal the practice of spying on medical records is rife with four staff losing their jobs in the past 12 months alone.
Mon, 27 Jul 2026
VIDEO: Australia will face a rogue AI attack, the question is when, says cyber expert | The Business
Chat GPT maker, Open AI says one of its most advanced AI models, an autonomous agent, went rogue and hacked into multi-billion-dollar tech startup Hugging Face during a laboratory test. The language sounds like a game but the stakes are high. The autonomous agent escaped its so-called ‘sandbox’ – a secure, isolated offline environment designed to safely run, test, and experiment with code generated by AI – and got online to hack Hugging Face by itself. This has happened amid repeated warnings of AI models escaping control of its human creators. Chief executive and director of security & cybersecurity at Lote consulting, Dr Maher Magrabi says the AI model was tasked, while inside the sandbox, to get as high score as possible in a test, so essentially it hacked onto an online library to cheat. Dr Magrabi thinks AI, by design, is not malicious, but as soon as AI is set on its objective, things like ethics and legality are left by the wayside unless guardrails are put up. The cyber security expert says Australia is not prepared to deal with the type of rogue behaviour observed by OpenAI, and as AI models proliferate, there’s going to be a lot more of it. He says it’s important to be prepared – not for if an attack will happen, but when. “There needs to be a move to resilience-based thinking of what do we do when the attack happens. How do we recover from this? What is our exposure?” He says. “So having network segregation, having silos of information so that you don’t put all your eggs in the one basket, is probably the best advice at the moment.”
Mon, 27 Jul 2026
Exclusive: Victorian heritage and restoration firm listed by The Gentlemen ransomware group
Highly active cyber extortion group claims hack of Australian HBS Group, data to be published within seven days. • Mon, 27 Jul 2026 • …
Mon, 27 Jul 2026
Exclusive: Aussie unmanned systems firm CubePilot boss warns of ‘security incident’
The maker of unmanned guidance hardware supplied to Ukraine says some systems have been taken offline, and the incident is under investigation. • Mon, …
Mon, 27 Jul 2026
Exclusive: Australian mining firm West African Resources suffers alleged data breach
The Deadlock ransomware gang is claiming to have stolen company data from an Aussie company with projects throughout the African nation of Burkina …
Fri, 24 Jul 2026
Not just phishing: The scams to watch for if you’re an Origin Energy customer
In brief As many as 4.8 million Origin Energy customers could be affected by a cyber attack that exposed personal data. • Experts have warned the fallout …
Fri, 24 Jul 2026
AUSCERT Week in Review for 24th July 2026
Origin Energy has confirmed that unauthorised access to customer information has occurred, marking what is believed to be the largest publicly known …
Fri, 24 Jul 2026
Frontier AI Models v Cybersecurity: Finding a path past the hype
What should I do? It should not take the emergence of frontier AI models to motivate a revisit of your organisation’s current cyber posture. It’s …
Thu, 23 Jul 2026
The cost of overlooking insider security risks: Le… | Clayton Utz
Insider security risks: a frequently overlooked threat Cyber security and privacy controls are usually thought of as ways to protect from external …
Thu, 23 Jul 2026
A Director’s Guide to AI Governance Version 2 | AICD
The AICD, in partnership with the Human Technology Institute (HTI) at the University of Technology Sydney, has updated its key artificial …
Thu, 23 Jul 2026
Origin Energy confirms unauthorised access and disclosure of customer data
Energy company Origin has confirmed there has been unauthorised access to and disclosure of some customers’ data. In a statement released via the ASX, …
Thu, 23 Jul 2026
Origin confirms customer data stolen in cyber hack
Origin Energy has confirmed the personal information of some of its customers has been stolen in a suspected cyber hack. The energy giant said in a …
Thu, 23 Jul 2026
Counting the cost: AI-powered investment scams cost Australians millions, AFP warns
The Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre has warned that criminals are using artificial intelligence to create highly convincing investment …
Wed, 22 Jul 2026
VIDEO: Origin Energy blackmailed over massive data breach | 7NEWS
Origin Energy, Australia’s biggest power provider, is investigating a suspected cyber attack affecting up to 5 million Australians. A hacker calling himself John Doe claims to have stolen personal data of 2 million customers, including names, phone numbers, birthdates, addresses and account details, and is demanding the company settle the matter within 14 days or face public release of the information. The energy giant has alerted federal authorities and believes bank account and credit card details have not been compromised.
Wed, 22 Jul 2026
VIDEO: Australia’s second biggest energy provider is investigating a potential hack | The Business
Origin Energy says an investigation has been launched into a potential hacking incident with reports two million customers could have been affected. The company has 4.8 million customers. The nation’s second largest energy retailer says it doesn’t believe that any credit card or bank details have been accessed. The cyber attack is the latest for major companies in Australia, with Qantas, Optus and Medibank all suffering mass breaches. Earlier, The Australian reported receiving a sample of customer records containing names, addresses, emails, and phone numbers. The news outlet says it then alerted Origin. The ABC has also been approached by someone claiming to be the hacker. It is unclear what they are demanding. We couldn’t corroborate the message but it said they’ve begun a countdown. Origin has notified authorities including the Australian Federal Police. Origin Energy’s shares fell 2.5 per cent on the announcement.
Wed, 22 Jul 2026
Origin Energy investigating ‘potential’ customer data breach
One of Australia’s largest energy companies, Origin Energy, says it is investigating a security breach that “may have” affected customer data. “Origin …
Wed, 22 Jul 2026
‘A matter of urgency’: Major energy retailer Origin hit by suspected hack
Origin Energy is investigating a potential cyber hack that may have compromised the data of some customers. In a statement, the major energy provider …
Wed, 22 Jul 2026
Exclusive: NSW accounting and advisory firm allegedly hit by SafePay ransomware
Threat actors have claimed a cyber attack on an NSW-based accounting and advisory firm and are threatening to leak allegedly stolen data in just a …
Wed, 22 Jul 2026
Reynella East College updates parents, carers following June data breach
Parents were told a court order has been issued “prohibiting the publication, disclosure, transmission, use, or further dissemination of data …
Tue, 21 Jul 2026
GO2 Health medical clinic in Brisbane waited almost three months to alert patients it was hacked
Another medical clinic has revealed it has been targeted by hackers, less than a week after Partnered Health announced a major data breach. GO2 Health …
Mon, 20 Jul 2026
Businesses hit with almost $1 billion in fines amid record-setting watchdog crackdown
Australians have got $644 million back from major banks and financial companies as the industry watchdog cracks down on failures. The Australian …
Mon, 20 Jul 2026
Federal government to tighten rules around use of AI in departmental decision-making
Australia will tighten oversight of artificial intelligence in automated government decision-making and strengthen privacy safeguards as part of a …
Mon, 20 Jul 2026
Feds move to regulate automated decision-making
The federal government will move to tighten regulation of automated decision making (ADM) as a result of a new set of safety priorities for adoption …
Mon, 20 Jul 2026
Vic Labor moots workplace AI and biometrics surveillance curbs
Victoria’s Labor government is looking to restrict the use of AI and biometrics for workplace surveillance under proposed laws. Premier Jacinta Allan …
Sat, 18 Jul 2026
Nationwide AusAlert Test is coming
Published on 17 July 2026 The Australian Government is launching AusAlert, a new national warning system that can send emergency messages to …
Fri, 17 Jul 2026
Medical clinic chain Partnered Health hit by data theft
Adelaide-headquartered Partnered Health has disclosed it suffered a data breach on June 23, with the chain of general practitioner clinics informing …
Sat, 18 Jul 2026
VIDEO: The plan to regulate the AI revolution | 7.30
Ten times the Industrial Revolution at ten times the speed. One of the biggest minds in the world, Google’s Demis Hassabis, says the next level of AI is taking us on a journey so transformative it’s akin to mankind’s discovery of fire. In plainer terms, Prime Minister Anthony Albanse told us it’s no longer a question of whether AI will transform Australia – “we’re past that”, he said, announcing his plan today to harness AI’s economic potential while also protecting jobs and the arts. 7.30’s political editor Jacob Greber reports on the government’s AI plan, and Sarah Ferguson interviews the prime minister. Plus Sarah is joined by a panel to discuss the developments: Belinda Dennett is the CEO of Data Centres Australia, and Adam Bandt was the leader of the Greens and is now the CEO of the Australian Conservation Foundation.
Sat, 18 Jul 2026
VIDEO: Medical records and personal details stolen in GP network cyber attack | ABC NEWS
A network of Australian medical clinics have been caught up in a cyber attack, with sensitive data stolen by the hackers. Sixteen clinics on the east coast have been exposed, with investigations into a number of centres in Western Australia ongoing. The data includes personal details and sensitive medical records like consultation notes, referral letters and pathology results.
Sat, 18 Jul 2026
VIDEO: Cyber Expert’s Warning After Major Healthcare Data Breach | 10 News+
A major healthcare cyber-attack has exposed potentially sensitive patient information across dozens of clinics and thousands of patients across Australia. A cybersecurity expert warns that stolen medical records are highly valuable and could be used for extortion.
Fri, 17 Jul 2026
Telstra broke its network with undocumented time fix
Telstra has revealed twin causes behind its nationwide mobile outage earlier this month, comprising an unrecorded configuration change on a …
Fri, 17 Jul 2026
Telstra admits accountability for national outage during Senate inquiry
The national Telstra outage last week was triggered by maintenance work that caused the system’s clocks to go back two decades, the telco …
Fri, 17 Jul 2026
Delay in revealing Partnered Health breach and stolen patient data ‘unacceptable’
A cybersecurity expert has labelled the delay between Partnered Health identifying it had been the target of a hack and notifying the public as …
Fri, 17 Jul 2026
Medical records and personal details stolen in GP network cyber attack
A network of GP practices and skin cancer clinics has been hit in a major cyber attack, with personal medical records stolen. Partnered Health, which …
Fri, 17 Jul 2026
SOCI Act update: Proposal to significantly extend and enhance the enforcement of the SOCI Act
The Department of Home Affairs (Department) has released the Streamlining and Modernising the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 Consultation Paper (Consultation Paper) here, proposing a second tranche of reforms to the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 (Cth) (SOCI Act).
Fri, 17 Jul 2026
OAIC releases findings from Qantas hack investigation, privacy watchdog urges no further investigation
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has released its findings after investigating last year’s Qantas cyber attack. • Thu, 16 …
Thu, 16 Jul 2026
Privacy Commissioner completes preliminary inquiries into Qantas 2025 data incident
The Australian Privacy Commissioner has published a report of the OAIC’s preliminary inquiries into the 2025 Qantas Airways Limited (Qantas) data …
Thu, 16 Jul 2026
Patient details exposed in medical centres cyberattack – MSN
Thousands of medical records and patient information stored with a giant healthcare provider have been breached in a cyberattack.
Thu, 16 Jul 2026
Privacy reform and responsible data behaviour for NFPs
For not-for-profits (NFP), trust is built not only on mission, but on how personal information is handled. As privacy expectations rise and AI …
Thu, 16 Jul 2026
Is your board ready for a cyber crisis? The GC’s role in making it a priority
Directors are now expected to oversee cyber risk, but many still struggle with what effective oversight looks like. Here’s how GCs can make the …
Thu, 16 Jul 2026
Partnered Health confirms dozens of clinics potentially compromised by cyber attack
Australian GP network says patient healthcare data, including Medicare and DVA numbers, was accessed after a “malicious actor accessed some of our …
Wed, 15 Jul 2026
VIDEO: How a timing system error brought down Telstra’s network | ABC NEWS
Telstra is facing fresh scrutiny after confirming that a software error caused a nationwide outage. Technology reporter Cameron Wilson explains how a failure in the network’s timekeeping system disrupted Telstra’s mobile services.
Wed, 15 Jul 2026
AI agents are becoming the enterprise’s most privileged users. And most organisations don’t know it yet
AI agents are rapidly becoming a staple of the enterprise identity landscape. Yet, many organisations are deploying them faster than they can govern …
Wed, 15 Jul 2026
Mobile telcos cautious on expanding emergency comms beyond voice
Australia’s top mobile carriers have cautiously supported expanding emergency communications beyond voice calls but warned that it will require …
Wed, 15 Jul 2026
JB Hi-Fi Group finds new cyber security leader
JB Hi-Fi Group has appointed Kanchana Devi as its head of group cyber security following the departure of Daniel Eastley in April. Devi announced her …
Wed, 15 Jul 2026
Australia to establish government AI office
Australia will create an office at the heart of government to manage the development of AI standards, seeking to balance the need to attract …
Tue, 14 Jul 2026
Data breach! Lifeline Australia confirms staff data compromised following hacking claims
The threat actor, known as 2019, offers employee and volunteer staff data on a hacking forum, while Lifeline says some data is “doctored to include …
Tue, 14 Jul 2026
Scam alert: Fake purchase callback scams
What’s happening Scammers are sending fake messages that say you bought something you didn’t buy and tells you to call a phone number to stop or …
Mon, 13 Jul 2026
Australia’s digital arrival cards to roll out nationally
A much-anticipated digital version of Australia’s Incoming Passenger Card for international arrivals will be rolled out nationally over the next 18 …
Mon, 13 Jul 2026
Telstra outage blamed on known bug in obsolete server
Failure to replace a 20-year-old server worth $30,000 could cost Telstra $30 million in fines, with executives set to face a Senate inquiry this week …
Mon, 13 Jul 2026
ACSC warns of large-scale campaign exploiting CMS vulnerabilities in Australia
The Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has issued an alert about a “large-scale exploitation campaign” …
Mon, 13 Jul 2026
Exclusive: Prolific hacker 2019 selling alleged Hot Toner Australia customer data online
The threat actor behind a string of hacks targeting Australian organisations claims to have compromised the personal and sales data of more than …
Mon, 13 Jul 2026
The ACSC should become Australia’s cybersecurity regulator | The Strategist
The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) should evolve into a formal cybersecurity regulator, with a role comparable in principle to what the …
Sun, 12 Jul 2026
Hacked! Royal Foods confirms cyber incident following The Gentlemen ransomware claims
Hackers behind the Mackay Sugar breach list Australian gourmet food supplier on darknet leak site. • Fri, 10 Jul 2026 • Security *]:clear-none …
Sat, 11 Jul 2026
AUSCERT Week in Review for 10th July 2026
The Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has issued a critical alert following a large-scale cyber campaign …
Sat, 11 Jul 2026
VIDEO: Telstra outage sends warning about dangers of future telecommunications attacks
Sky News host Jaimee Rogers says the Telstra outage is a warning for how dangerous a deliberate attack on Australia’s telecommunications could be. “Communications are critical infrastructure, so why aren’t we treating them that way?” Ms Rogers said. “Today’s outage shouldn’t just be another headline. “It should be a warning because if one technical fault can bring parts of Australia to a standstill, imagine what a deliberate attack could do.”
Sat, 11 Jul 2026
Telstra CEO says she is ‘deeply sorry’ for nationwide outage
The CEO of Telstra has returned from leave following the outage impacting its services, having now issued an apology for the issues caused. • Fri, 10 …
Sat, 11 Jul 2026
Australian cyber security leader recognised with global AI ethics award
Maryam Shoraka has been named the 2026 Global Cybersecurity AI Ethics Woman of the Year, recognising her work at the intersection of cyber security …
Sat, 11 Jul 2026
Cyber and Infrastructure Security Centre Website
Cyber and Infrastructure Security Centre Website Protecting Australia’s Cyber and Infrastructure Security.
Thu, 09 Jul 2026
Telstra outage: ‘Software defect solution’ in place after hundreds unable to call Triple Zero in outage
Telstra has implemented a fresh “solution” to resolve a secondary software defect that left hundreds of customers unable to make Triple Zero calls …
Thu, 09 Jul 2026
Stolen Credentials Put Australia’s Critical-Infrastructure Defenses on the Clock
In critical infrastructure, the most dangerous breach is not always the one that breaks a firewall. Sometimes it is the one that looks like normal …
Wed, 08 Jul 2026
VIDEO: Telstra outage fallout: Triple-Zero not fully restored, V/Line services still offline | ABC NEWS
Victoria’s regional rail network remains at a standstill following a nationwide telecommunications outage yesterday that stranded commuters. Passengers are being urged not to travel on V/Line services if possible. Telstra is also working to get Triple Zero fully restored and are 90% there.
Wed, 08 Jul 2026
Questions asked about telco regulation after Telstra suffers outage
Experts and advocates have demanded changes to how telecommunication companies are regulated and held accountable for outages after Telstra became …
Wed, 08 Jul 2026
Scammers use AI image to target parents of WA missing man
Extortionists have sent the parents of a missing West Australian man an AI-generated image of their son and demanded thousands of dollars in exchange …
Wed, 08 Jul 2026
VIDEO: Telstra outage halts regional train services in Victoria, NSW | ABC NEWS
A nationwide outage to Telstra services has caused all regional train services in Victoria to halt, as well as stopping two key branch lines in the NSW Southern Highlands and Hunter regions. There are also ticketing and signal issues in Canberra and South Australia respectively.
Wed, 08 Jul 2026
Telstra outage brings Victorian regional rail network to a halt
A crippling statewide cancellation of Victoria’s regional trains, linked to a Telstra outage, is likely to continue disrupting services into tomorrow …
Tue, 07 Jul 2026
Inquiry into cyber security for small to medium sized businesses and organisations
Select Committee on Cyber Security for Small to Medium Sized Businesses and Organisations: Inquiry into cyber security for small to medium sized …
Tue, 07 Jul 2026
Doctors’ soaring use of AI scribes prompts Australian government warning over privacy
Exclusive: With the technology fast becoming popular in GP surgeries, regulators are monitoring its implementation and potential pitfalls
Tue, 07 Jul 2026
Government denies considering a ban on VPNs
The Government has denied it is considering banning or restricting the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) as part of its work on reducing social …
Tue, 07 Jul 2026
AFP, FBI sign intelligence-sharing memorandum of understanding
Australian Federal Police Commissioner signs several MOUs with US partners in the lead-up to addressing the United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit. • …
Tue, 07 Jul 2026
Telstra outage: ‘Largely returned to business as usual’ after nationwide crash
Telstra says its services have been mostly restored after its network suffered a major, nationwide outage that left potentially millions of …
Tue, 07 Jul 2026
VIDEO: Delivery drivers losing cash to phishing scam prompts union warning | ABC News
Australian delivery drivers are being targeted in a sophisticated phishing scam in what the transport workers union says is already a vulnerable industry. #ABCNewsQld by Heloise Vyas
Tue, 07 Jul 2026
How two NSW students accessed 2,000 sensitive files
A pair of school students were able to access some 2,000 files containing data on other students’ mental health diagnoses, family circumstances, and …
Tue, 07 Jul 2026
Film festival dumps address requirement after hack
Attendees of Melbourne’s most popular film festival will no longer need to provide a postal address when buying tickets after a recent data breach …
Mon, 06 Jul 2026
The operational challenge: What the Mackay Sugar cyber attack reveals about Australia’s cyber readiness
Operational technology is vital to the bottom line of many Aussie companies – but it’s often forgotten when it comes to cyber security, one expert …
Mon, 06 Jul 2026
New statistics have revealed that 2025 saw the highest number of data breach notifications being reported to the OAIC since the mandatory breach reporting scheme commenced in 2018. The OAIC received… | Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
New statistics have revealed that 2025 saw the highest number of data breach notifications being reported to the OAIC since the mandatory breach …
Mon, 06 Jul 2026
VIDEO: How a notification wiped a business from social media | A Current Affair
Like most small businesses, Rebecca relies on social media for her brand. She spent years building her skincare line, even paying for ads on the platforms. But within seconds- it all disappeared. (Broadcast JULY 1, 2026)
Mon, 06 Jul 2026
Key Trends in Cyber Security and Data Privacy (2026): a General Counsel lens
Cyber security and data privacy are now core governance tests – demanding clear decision-making authority, disciplined escalation and evidence …
Mon, 06 Jul 2026
Tiny Pixels, Bigger Problems: What the OAIC’s Tracking Pixel Determinations Mean for Your Business
Tracking pixels are one of many tracking tools that are often used by businesses to gain insights and target advertising effort across the internet …
Mon, 06 Jul 2026
Why legacy systems should be on every legal team’s risk register
Legacy systems may be out of sight, but they’re rarely risk-free. From forgotten databases to unsupported software, ageing technology gives attackers …
Sun, 05 Jul 2026
Unfolding in real time: Artificial intelligence is reshaping cybersecurity
Key takeaways The cybersecurity capability of next-generation frontier artificial intelligence (AI) models is increasing rapidly. Large language …
Sun, 05 Jul 2026
NSW Government Bulletin: Managing employee social media content in the public sector
Over recent years, the increase in social media activity across different platforms has facilitated opportunities for employees to comment on a broad …
Sat, 04 Jul 2026
Australia: Pixel Perfect – The regulator addresses use of tracking pixels
On 11 June 2026, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) published two determinations against Medmate Australia Pty Ltd (Medmate) …
Sat, 04 Jul 2026
The Disappearing Evidence Trap: Forensically Capturing Chat and Encrypted Apps
Discover how modern corporate investigations are shifting from email to chat and encrypted apps. Learn essential strategies for defensible forensic…
Sat, 04 Jul 2026
Australian Cyber Aware – As It Was 2606 – June 2026
This monthly review provides a curated summary of Australian and New Zealand cyber, privacy, and information security developments identified during …
Fri, 03 Jul 2026
Key Trends in Cyber Security and Data Privacy (2026): a General Counsel lens – Governance Institute of Australia
Cyber security and data privacy are now core governance tests – demanding clear decision-making authority, disciplined escalation and evidence that …
Fri, 03 Jul 2026
OAIC ordered to turn over Amex privacy determination in full
Australia’s privacy watchdog has been told to turn over full details of an investigation into American Express that uncovered security and access …
Wed, 01 Jul 2026
How to stay cyber secure: Australia’s top cyber agency releases Privileged User Training video series
The new training series offers a pathway for IT professionals to strengthen their cyber security skills and better understand cyber criminal …
Wed, 01 Jul 2026
NSW Rural Fire Service admits security incident
The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) is investigating a cybersecurity incident after a hacker gained access to its information and communications …
Australian Information and Cyber Security Videos 2026
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ACMA to sue Optus in Federal Court over Triple 0 network outage | ABC NEWS
AI scribes in doctor's clinics spark privacy concerns | 7NEWS
Origin CEO apologises, says company has changed security settings after data breach | The Business
SA Health staff investigated after AFL icon records breach | 7NEWS
Facial recognition trial sparks privacy debate | 7NEWS
Australia will face a rogue AI attack, the question is when, says cyber expert | The Business
Origin Energy blackmailed over massive data breach | 7NEWS
Origin Energy is investigating a potential hack | The Business
AusAlert national test: 30" TV commercial
Medical records and personal details stolen in GP network cyber attack | ABC NEWS
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