Data connected to HWL Ebsworth’s work for several Victorian government departments and agencies has been released on the dark web following a cyberattack against the law firm.
A damning report by a royal commission into the former federal government’s Robodebt scheme has recommended several individuals be referred for civil action or criminal prosecution, finding it was “a crude and cruel mechanism, neither fair nor legal”.
Data exposed by a cyberattack against law firm HWL Ebsworth included “sensitive personal and government information,” according to Australia’s newly appointed National Cyber Security Coordinator.
Optus has denied class action claims that customers suffered loss and damages for its alleged negligence in relation to last year’s massive data breach and argues they are not entitled to compensation for distress, frustration or disappointment that does not amount to a recognised psychiatric illness.
A judge has cautioned two law firms running competing shareholder class actions over last October’s cyber attack on Medibank that they must keep their focus on the best interests of clients and group members, saying lawyers can lose sight of that duty when arguing for their case.
Medibank is now facing five class actions over last October’s cyber attack that left exposed the personal data of 9.7 million customers, this one by shareholders of the private health insurer.
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has raised Medibank’s capital adequacy requirement by $250 million, following last year’s cyber attack against the private health insurer, which exposed the personal details of 10 million customers.
The Albanese government has appointed Australia’s first cybersecurity coordinator in the wake of a string cyberattacks against large firms, including one against law firm HWL Ebsworth which the privacy minister likened to the Optus and Medibank hacks.
The legal industry is one of the most vulnerable to attack by ransomware, with over 200 attacks worldwide in three years, according to a recent report.
National Australia Bank has been revealed as one of HWL Ebsworth’s clients whose information was compromised when the law firm was hacked by a Russian-linked group.