Data Breaches Surge 26% in H2 2022, Raising Privacy Concerns
The second half of 2022 witnessed a significant surge in data breaches, with a 26% increase overall compared to the previous period. This rise in cyber threats has sparked concerns about the protection of personal information.
The Australian Information Commissioner and Privacy Commissioner, Angelene Falk, emphasized the substantial impact of these incidents on individuals. She underscored the importance of organizations collecting only the minimum required personal data and deleting it once it's no longer needed. This practice can help prevent such breaches.
The Privacy Legislation Amendment (Enforcement and Other Measures) Act 2022, enacted during this period, has empowered the Commissioner with new authorities. It enables her to assess entities' compliance with the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme and obtain information about suspected eligible data breaches. This should help fortify privacy protection.
Cyber security incidents were the primary catalyst for large-scale breaches. Out of 40 major breaches, 33 affected over 5,000 Australians. Several incidents compromised millions of Australians' personal information. These breaches can lead to further attacks, such as targeted social engineering, impersonation fraud, and scams.
The increase in data breaches in the second half of 2022 underscores the necessity for robust data protection measures. The newly enacted Act and the Commissioner's emphasis on responsible data handling practices are steps in the right direction to mitigate these risks.
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