CFOtech Australia - Technology news for CFOs & financial decision-makers
Australia

Privacy breach Stories

Australian Stories

Privacy breach stories

Australians overconfident as risky password habits persist
Multi-factor authentication

Australians overconfident as risky password habits persist

Australians feel confident spotting cyber threats, but most still reuse passwords, share logins and ignore breaches unless directly alerted.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Wed, 11th Mar 2026
Student data breaches expose cyber flaws in schools
Firewalls

Student data breaches expose cyber flaws in schools

Data breaches at Victorian schools and Sydney University expose deep cyber flaws, leaving Australian students vulnerable to long-term threats.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Fri, 16th Jan 2026

Global Stories

Privacy breach stories

AI girlfriend apps exposed private chats in security audit
Data Protection

AI girlfriend apps exposed private chats in security audit

Security flaws in 17 AI companion apps used by 150m people could expose intimate chats, photos and voice messages to attackers.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Fri, 20th Mar 2026
GenAI drives patient data policy breaches in healthcare
Malware

GenAI drives patient data policy breaches in healthcare

GenAI use in healthcare is fuelling patient data policy breaches, with regulated records making up 89% of AI-linked violations, research shows.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Wed, 11th Mar 2026
ShinyHunters claims Woflow breach in supply chain hack
Data Protection

ShinyHunters claims Woflow breach in supply chain hack

ShinyHunters claims it hacked merchant data firm Woflow, raising supply chain fears for major brands despite no confirmed breach yet.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Sat, 7th Mar 2026
Privacy teams in Oceania face stress & budget cuts
Data Protection

Privacy teams in Oceania face stress & budget cuts

Oceania privacy teams face rising stress, shrinking budgets and smaller staff as rapid tech change outpaces compliance and risk controls.

By Mark Tarre • 5 min read • Fri, 30th Jan 2026
Why SOC 2 Type 2 certification matters for brokers
Data Protection

Why SOC 2 Type 2 certification matters for brokers

Insurance brokers must scrutinise software vendors' SOC 2 Type 2 security to safeguard client data, compliance and operational resilience.

By Peter Waring • 6 min read • Thu, 29th Jan 2026
OWASP unveils first Top 10 risks for agentic AI use
Data Protection

OWASP unveils first Top 10 risks for agentic AI use

OWASP has launched its first Top 10 list for agentic AI, warning autonomous systems act as a powerful but risky new digital workforce.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Fri, 9th Jan 2026

Stories from Other Regions

Privacy breach stories

Probe finds OpenAI violated privacy laws in ChatGPT dev
Data Protection

Probe finds OpenAI violated privacy laws in ChatGPT dev

Privacy regulators in Canada say the chatbot maker failed to obtain valid consent for training data, prompting ongoing oversight and reform.

By Jake MacAndrew • 3 min read • Last month
Finance professionals raise AI compliance & GDPR fears
Storage

Finance professionals raise AI compliance & GDPR fears

Widespread AI use in accountancy is stoking fears over client data, GDPR breaches and disciplinary action as firms chase convenience over controls.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Fri, 3rd Apr 2026
UK ambulance data breaches surge past 4,000 in three years
Data Protection

UK ambulance data breaches surge past 4,000 in three years

UK ambulance services logged over 4,000 data breaches in three years, with incidents rising annually amid growing digital and cyber risks.

By Melania Watson • 4 min read • Wed, 21st Jan 2026
European privacy teams warn of cuts amid rising risks
Data Protection

European privacy teams warn of cuts amid rising risks

European privacy teams brace for 2026 budget cuts as understaffing grows, breach risks rise and boards treat privacy as mere compliance.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Fri, 16th Jan 2026
ManageMyHealth fixes code and bolsters security after hack
Data Protection

ManageMyHealth fixes code and bolsters security after hack

ManageMyHealth says it has fixed code flaws and tightened logins after a hack that may have exposed health documents of up to 7% of users.

By RNZ • 4 min read • Thu, 8th Jan 2026
'Be very, very suspicious': Neighbourly breach makes users vulnerable - expert
Firewalls

'Be very, very suspicious': Neighbourly breach makes users vulnerable - expert

Neighbourly breach puts up to a million users at risk as stolen GPS data and messages hit dark web, experts urge extreme vigilance online.

By RNZ • 4 min read • Mon, 5th Jan 2026
Neighbourly data breach: Stuff files High Court injunction
Data Protection

Neighbourly data breach: Stuff files High Court injunction

Neighbourly has been taken offline while Stuff and external experts probe claims of a data breach affecting the community website's users.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Mon, 5th Jan 2026
Government orders review into ManageMyHealth data breach
Data Protection

Government orders review into ManageMyHealth data breach

Government orders urgent review into ManageMyHealth cyber breach as hackers threaten to leak 400,000 patient files over NZD $60,000.

By RNZ • 5 min read • Mon, 5th Jan 2026
ManageMyHealth reveals scope of data breach
Data Protection

ManageMyHealth reveals scope of data breach

ManageMyHealth says up to 7 percent of its 1.8 million users may be caught up in a cyber breach, with notifications due within days.

By RNZ • 1 min read • Fri, 2nd Jan 2026