Hackers have breached Optus’ systems. They accessed names, dates of birth, phone numbers, email addresses, physical addresses and driver’s licence numbers of millions of the telecommunications giant’s customers. Up to 9 million customers had been affected. Many had their contact details exposed to the hackers, who also pilfered even more sensitive details, such as passport and drivers’ licence numbers, for a smaller portion of Optus customers.

In August 2025, Australia’s privacy regulator filed a landmark lawsuit against Optus over a 2022 data breach that exposed the personal information of 9.5 million customers. The breach, one of the largest in Australian history, involved unauthorized access to sensitive customer data, including names, dates of birth, phone numbers, email addresses, and in some cases, government-issued identification numbers (e.g., driver’s license or passport details). The potential regulatory fines could reach A$2.2 million per affected individual, totaling a catastrophic financial penalty exceeding A$20 billion if applied at maximum scale.The incident underscored systemic vulnerabilities in third-party data handling, particularly in highly regulated sectors like financial services and telecommunications. The breach not only triggered massive reputational damage but also led to a surge in fraudulent activities targeting affected customers, including identity theft and phishing scams. Optus faced intense scrutiny from regulators, lawmakers, and the public, with the case setting a precedent for stricter enforcement of data protection laws in Australia. The fallout also accelerated industry-wide shifts toward localized, no-retention software solutions to mitigate similar risks in the future.

Dennis Su, 19, texted 93 of the telco's customers, demanding they transfer $2000 to a CBA bank account He threatened them for exposing personal information being used for financial crimes. He was having a difficult time being unemployed and wanted to make some quick money.