Australia's Biggest Telecommunications Company Telstra Corp. Cyber Attack, Employee Data Conceded

Telstra, has 18.8 million customer accounts in Asutralia. (photo: twitter @tesltra)

JAKARTA Cyberattacks repeatedly threaten data security in Australia. Australia's largest telecommunications company Telstra Corp Ltd stated on Tuesday 4 October that it had experienced minor data breaches as a result of cyberattacks. This announcement comes two weeks after its main rival Optus was also rocked by a massive cyberattack.

Telstra, which has 18.8 million customer accounts equivalent to three-quarters of Australia's population, said third-party organizational intrusion has exposed some employee data since 2017.

According to local media, Telstra's internal staff email said the current number of employees and former employees affected were 30,000 people.

The data taken is "very basic", only limited to email names and addresses, a company spokesperson said in a statement.

"We believe it is available now in a bid to profit from the Optus violation," the spokesman said without elaborating.

Telstra did not comment on the number of people affected or when the breach occurred, but said it only affected staff at the moment and its former staff.

The telecommunications, financial and government sectors of Australia have been on high alert since Optus revealed on September 22 that its system breaches may have endangered up to 10 million people's accounts. The exposed data includes home addresses, driver's licenses, and passport numbers.

Optus Singapore Telecommunications owner Ltd said it was assessing the potential cost of the attack, while law firms were considering a class action lawsuit.

The Australian government, which believes the breach was caused by a basic security loophole, continues to criticize Optus for describing the attack as a sophisticated attack and for delays in updating affected customers.

"Senior Optus management joked that they wanted medals for the way they communicated," Government Service Minister Bill Shorten told reporters, Tuesday, October 4. "Even crocodiles won't drink it."

An Optus spokesman declined to comment on Shorten's remarks, but said the company was working as quickly as possible to provide accurate updates to the affected customers.