Navigating the digital landscape can be a bit of a maze, especially when it comes to keeping track of all the different government services and apps.

However, there's good news on the horizon for those of us who have been scratching our heads trying to differentiate between myGovID and the myGov services portal.

In a move that's set to simplify our digital experience, the Australian government has announced a significant change.

The Australian government’s digital ID app, myGovID, will be rebranded as ‘myID’ starting in mid-November.

This change is more than just a fresh coat of paint. It's a strategic decision aimed at eliminating the confusion that has surrounded these two separate entities.

For many, especially those who didn't grow up with a smartphone in hand, distinguishing between similarly named services can be unnecessarily complicated.

The upcoming rebranding to myID is a welcome step towards making digital government services more user-friendly and accessible.

The Australian government's digital ID app, myGovID, will be rebranded as ‘myID’ to avoid confusion with the myGov services portal. Credit: myGovID

The transition to myID will be seamless, delivered as an app update through the App Store or Google Play.

‘When myGovID changes to myID, users won’t need to do anything differently,’ the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) stated.

‘Existing users will not need to set up a new myID.’

‘Login details and the user’s identity strength level set up in myGovID will stay the same and users can continue to use the app in the same way to securely access participating government online services,’ they added.

The decision to rebrand was one of the recommendations from the Critical National Infrastructure myGov User Audit report released in January 2023.

The myGovID app, which will soon be known as myID, enables users to verify their identity online without repeatedly sharing personal documents like passports, birth certificates, and driver’s licences.

Login details and identity strength levels established in myGovID will remain intact, and the app's functionality will continue as usual, allowing secure access to over 150 government online services.

As we anticipate the new look and name, the ATO has also issued a warning to be vigilant against impersonation scams.

‘Scammers can make fake websites or apps that look just like myGovID or myID,’ the ATO cautioned.

‘Only download the myGovID (soon myID) app from the official app stores (Google Play and the App Store).’

‘Don’t click on suspicious links, open attachments or download any files from suspicious emails or SMS; we will never send an unsolicited SMS that contains a hyperlink,’ they continued.

Key Takeaways

• The Australian government's digital ID app myGovID will be rebranded as ‘myID’ to distinguish it from the myGov services portal.
• This change, scheduled for mid-November, aims to eliminate confusion and will be implemented through an app update.
• Existing myGovID users will not need to create a new account for myID, and their login details and identity strength level will remain unchanged.
• The ATO advised users to be vigilant for impersonation scams and to only download the app from official sources, while never clicking on unsolicited links.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on this change. Have you used myGovID before, and do you think the rebrand to myID will make a difference in your digital dealings? Share your experiences and insights in the comments below!

 

[Rain72]

Must be awful having your head buried in the sand, nothing paranoid about this, is a real concern!

I don't think it's awful living in la la land and being totally deluded. It's probably quite comfortable, until you are forced by some event or realization to acknowledge reality. Then the shock will be totally devastating. And it's coming to all the poor deluded soon. They will learn that what they call ''paranoia'' is actually truth - sad and scary as that might seem to them. We ''paranoid'' should be prepared to be understanding and empathetic and offer whatever comfort we can provide.

 

[Rain72]

We couldn't even use the old one, we do banking/Paypal/eBay, and every other entity without any problems, but when it comes to do with our government it is a flop, we just have the day out and drive 80klm and visit the big white building and speak to a human instead.

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I've called their support line five times and finally gave up. The app just does not work!

 

[Penny4]

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I've called their support line five times and finally gave up. The app just does not work!

It's head banging stuff that's for sure. Perseverance is what it's called. lol

 

[June E]

Very upsetting that everything must be done on apps on your smart phone
Why this push to get more scams by this stupid government?

They call it advancements

 

[Steve Russell]

Rebranded but still has a smell of big brother, communism if you like.

 

[Greg350]

I must agree with IAN3005, this is how it started in China look at it now. The ID must be used EVERYWHERE including social media and you say one thing out of line or against the Govt. and they punish them quickly and in many ways, restricting travel type and even where they can travel too. Check it out and become informed not apathetic.

This is not China.
Another paranoid nutter

 

[Gerrit H. Schorel-Hlavka]

The mere mentioning that this was recommended in early 2023 and relates also to the usage of "‘Only download the myGovID (soon myID) app from the official app stores (Google Play and the App Store).’" in my view proves that all the hype about "SECURITY" of any DIGITAL ID were lies. This as using Google Play and/or App Store hardly is secure. Neither do I hold that the Federal government has any constitutional legislative powers to interfere with my constitutional civil rights, etc, as I published at my Scribd blog already. To me the politicians involved are committing TREASON to serve their masters in the UN, WHO and W.E.F. and should be removed as sections 44 & 45 makes clear they AUTOMATICALLY lost their seats when they engaged with the enemy entities to seek to overthrow our constitutional system.

 

[Mark@Home]

I have a 1903 candlestick telephone. Where, in the treasurer might I shove it to give him blue teeth?

 

[Sue's]

They are working towards the TOTAL CONTROL of us. Just another step... 'one small step for mankind, a great leap into CONTROL'
In the end they will know EXACTLY the minute detail of what we are doing in live time.... mark my words. The following video was made in 2018 so yo can imagine where they are now....we are only scraping the surface....

I oppose digital ID & will not sign up to more Labor government control

 

[Veggiepatch]

Must be awful living in constant fear, paranoid behaviour like yours needs attention.

Must be awful living in the delusion of invincibility, when behaviour like yours gets a wake up call when your personal information is hacked.

Good luck!!

 

[Clancieblue]

Why has no one asked us if we want it changed?

 

[DLHM]

It’s a bit of a concern that our personal apps can be moved around and “updated” yet I never use the myGovID and myGov apps. I suppose I should have a look?

 

[Veggiepatch]

I use myGov but not as the "digital" app. I will stick to my three step verification process to access my account on all of my devices.

All two of them....

 

[Inot54]

Why is everyone suddenly becoming paranoid? It’s only a name change!! You’ve already given the information and don’t need to add any more.

 

[julieapol]

We said NO to the digital ID but they are going to make us have it one way or another. Then they wonder why we get scammed so often, it's because they have all our information in the same place, once it's accessed it's out there for the world to use as they please.

 

[Kevin. A.]

I simply do not trust all of this online stuff. It is only a matter of time before hackers are able to crack these id protocols or passwords and hold people or the country to ransom. Stealing customers Id, creating fake profiles, stealing from bank account and or using someone's personal details to get financial loans in someone else's name. Not to mention the inevitable power glitches. My wife tried to pay an account after seeing a specialist the other day. The internet kept having glitches, so we had to go back the next day to pay the account because they did not have the facilities to pay the account another way and give us back the medical rebates.

 

[Singomate]

It's never that simple,older Aussies grapple with IT.

 

[Witty]

It’s about time they fixed it. I have worked with computers and even progtamming for 30 years and consider myself technically competent, however the MyGovID set up was a dog’s dinner. No actually that’s a bit unfair…some dog’s dinners are really quite ok.

As a programmer do you take into consideration that not everyone has a mobile phone or an Ipad?????

 

[ToniaKisliakov]

Its similar to

Hope not as I am in the same boat.

It is similar to the Director's ID but different to control honest people

 

[Witty]

As a parent of a disabled adult and use Mygov to connect to the NDIS portal - lucky me changes are coming mid October. I do not have a mobile phone or an IPad and use the two step authentication (secret question) to log in. This method will not be available after 18th October. 5 phones calls - different people, 2 1/2 hours in total, no one is able to tell me how I will be able to log in. One person told me that I would have to buy a phone - no thanks. Why do programmers assume that everyone in Australia has a mobile phone????