'Distressing': Latitude reveals 7.9 million driver license numbers and 53,000 passport numbers stolen in cyber-attack

Latitude admitted Monday's update on the cyber-attack would be a "distressing development" for many of its customers.

Latitude has admitted millions of its customers were caught up in this month's hack after earlier suspecting the cyber-attack impacted the data of about 300,000 people.

The company update, which was shared to the ASX on Monday, revealed 7.9 million Australian and New Zealand driver license details and 53,000 passport numbers were stolen.

Of the licenses, about 40 per cent of the documentation was provided in the past decade.

A further 6.1 million historical records dating back as far as 2005 had also been taken, of which 94 per cent had been given to Latitude before 2013.

The statement added the company had also identified less than 100 customers who had at least one monthly financial statement stolen.

Latitude had warned last week the attack was larger than its initial estimate of 330,000 customers, but the sheer scale of the data breach will likely come as a shock to many.

"We recognise that today’s announcement will be a distressing development for many of our customers and we apologise unreservedly," the statement read.

"We are writing to all customers, past customers and applicants whose information was compromised outlining details of the information stolen and our plans for remediation."

Outgoing CEO Ahmed Fahour called the new revelations about the size of the hack "hugely disappointing", and moved to reassure customers the company was doing all it could to help those impacted.

"We apologise unreservedly," he said.

"We are committed to working closely with impacted customers and applicants to minimise the risk and disruption to them, including reimbursing the cost if they choose to replace their ID document.

"We are also committed to a full review of what has occurred."

https://www.skynews.com.au/business/distressing-latitude-reveals-79-million-driver-license-numbers-and-53000-passport-numbers-stolen-in-cyberattack/news-story/c1560e7da1b0525dfd0a29578edeada5

NSW man charged for allegedly sending threatening emails

An Auburn man is scheduled to appear in Burwood Local Court today (27 March, 2023), for allegedly sending emails threating to seriously harm Federal parliamentarians.

The AFP will allege that between October 2022 and February 2023, the man sent 18 harassing and menacing emails to a number of Commonwealth public officials, including elected representatives.

The man, 54, was spoken to by police on 28 February, 2023, where he allegedly agreed not to make any further threats.

The AFP was notified last Friday (24 March, 2023) that the man had allegedly continued to issue threats, including threats of violence.

Police executed a search warrant at the man’s home that same day, arresting him and seizing a mobile phone and notebook.

The man was charged with two offences and appeared before a Parramatta court on Saturday (25 March, 2023), where he was remanded in custody to appear in court today.

Detective Superintendent Craig Bellis said the AFP was committed to protecting all members of the Australian public, including those serving the community.

“Hiding behind a keyboard to issue threats against politicians does not ensure anonymity,” Det-Supt Bellis said.

“The AFP supports political expression and freedom of speech, but when it leads to criminal behaviour - including threats and harassment - it will not be tolerated.

“The AFP has world-leading technology and skills to identify individuals who break the law by harassing, menacing or threatening to kill Commonwealth officials.”

The man was charged with:

Threatening to cause harm to Commonwealth public official, contrary to section 147.2(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth); and

Using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence, contrary to section 474.17(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).

The maximum penalty for these offences is nine and five years’ imprisonment, respectively.

https://www.afp.gov.au/news-media/media-releases/nsw-man-charged-allegedly-sending-threatening-emails