Your Woolworths shopping could be at risk! MyDeal becomes the latest target of cyber attack
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The past few months have been pretty tough for a lot of businesses, especially when it comes to cybersecurity. Just take a look at the recent string of cyber attacks that have affected some of Australia's biggest companies!
Now, we're sorry to report that the latest business to fall victim to a data breach is MyDeal.com.au, which is owned by the Woolworths Group.
According to a statement released by the company, about 2.2 million customers have been affected by the breach and the compromised data came from files that were parts of its customer relationship management system.
Fortunately for its customers who have purchased products viaon the site, the retail marketplace did not store payment details (such as credit card or bank account numbers) or driver's licences or passports that customers had provided as proof of identity.
For those of you who are using MyDeal or are curious about the extent of the breach, here are more details:
What kind of data was exposed?
The information that was leaked included names, birthdates, phone numbers, and addresses. Additionally, MyDeal stated that this incident did not expose any customer account passwords or payment information.
Were the authorities informed of the breach?
The Woolworths Group had notified the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) of the MyDeal data breach, according to an ABC report.
The company's statement read: 'The OAIC will engage with Woolworths to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme in accordance with our usual process.'
What is MyDeal doing to assist those affected?
According to Sean Senvirtne, chief executive officer of MyDeal, MyDeal 'will continue to work with relevant authorities as we investigate the incident and we will keep our customers fully informed of any further updates impacting them.'
A spokesperson for Woolworths Group also confirmed to ABC News that the company had joined forces with IDCARE, Australia's national identity and cyber support community service.
By doing this, the business offers those who will be most impacted specialised case management support in the event that they have particular concerns or queries about how to protect themselves.
Additionally, the company sent an email to a large group of MyDeal customers notifying them of the security breach.
Key Takeaways
2.2 million customers were affected by the data breach
The leaked information includes names, dates of birth, phone numbers, and addresses
The Woolworths Group has notified the OAIC of the incident and is working with IDCARE to provide case management support to those affected
Customers are advised to keep an eye on their accounts and be cautious of any suspicious activity
MyDeal has also suggested recommendations on how to keep yourself safe from any fraudulent activities:
While this is not directly related, it might also be an excellent time to remind our members who use any virtual wallets or utilise payment cards, bank cards, or contactless payments to review their daily spending patterns, including any in-app purchases, and ensure they are taking necessary steps to protect their personal information.
So, there you have it, folks! Again, if you're a MyDeal user and you suspect that there are malicious activities in your account, immediately contact via phone at (03) 6120 6131 or through its help centre page. Stay safe out there!
We also recommend you download our free Cyber Security eBook here, whether you ever shopped at MyDeal or not.
Now, we're sorry to report that the latest business to fall victim to a data breach is MyDeal.com.au, which is owned by the Woolworths Group.
According to a statement released by the company, about 2.2 million customers have been affected by the breach and the compromised data came from files that were parts of its customer relationship management system.
Fortunately for its customers who have purchased products viaon the site, the retail marketplace did not store payment details (such as credit card or bank account numbers) or driver's licences or passports that customers had provided as proof of identity.
Customers of MyDeal, a division of the Woolworths Group, had their information exposed as a result of a breach. Credit: ABC News/Nic MacBean.
For those of you who are using MyDeal or are curious about the extent of the breach, here are more details:
What kind of data was exposed?
The information that was leaked included names, birthdates, phone numbers, and addresses. Additionally, MyDeal stated that this incident did not expose any customer account passwords or payment information.
Were the authorities informed of the breach?
The Woolworths Group had notified the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) of the MyDeal data breach, according to an ABC report.
The company's statement read: 'The OAIC will engage with Woolworths to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme in accordance with our usual process.'
The emails MyDeal sends regarding the breach, according to the company, won't contain any links. Credit: ABC News.
What is MyDeal doing to assist those affected?
According to Sean Senvirtne, chief executive officer of MyDeal, MyDeal 'will continue to work with relevant authorities as we investigate the incident and we will keep our customers fully informed of any further updates impacting them.'
A spokesperson for Woolworths Group also confirmed to ABC News that the company had joined forces with IDCARE, Australia's national identity and cyber support community service.
By doing this, the business offers those who will be most impacted specialised case management support in the event that they have particular concerns or queries about how to protect themselves.
Additionally, the company sent an email to a large group of MyDeal customers notifying them of the security breach.
Key Takeaways
2.2 million customers were affected by the data breach
The leaked information includes names, dates of birth, phone numbers, and addresses
The Woolworths Group has notified the OAIC of the incident and is working with IDCARE to provide case management support to those affected
Customers are advised to keep an eye on their accounts and be cautious of any suspicious activity
MyDeal has also suggested recommendations on how to keep yourself safe from any fraudulent activities:
- Keep an eye on your accounts, and let the relevant organisation know if you suspect any unusual activity.
- Use caution by not clicking on links or opening attachments to emails or social media messages if you are not sure that they are genuine.
- MyDeal will never send you a text or an email asking for your password to be entered — any communication which does so will not be genuine.
While this is not directly related, it might also be an excellent time to remind our members who use any virtual wallets or utilise payment cards, bank cards, or contactless payments to review their daily spending patterns, including any in-app purchases, and ensure they are taking necessary steps to protect their personal information.
So, there you have it, folks! Again, if you're a MyDeal user and you suspect that there are malicious activities in your account, immediately contact via phone at (03) 6120 6131 or through its help centre page. Stay safe out there!
We also recommend you download our free Cyber Security eBook here, whether you ever shopped at MyDeal or not.
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