The Tasmanian Department for Education, Children, and Young People (DECYP) has released an update regarding a potential data breach from a third-party file transfer service.
The Tasmanian Government is currently investigating the theft of data, which may have resulted in personal information being accessed by a criminal group. While the data has not yet been released, there is a chance that it may be published by the group involved.
The data at risk includes current and historical financial information and could contain personal details such as names, addresses, school names, and learners' dates of birth.
Individuals who have interacted with DECYP, including the Teachers Registration Board (TRB), Office of the Education Registrar, Office of Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and Certification (TASC), Commissioner for Children and Young People, Government Education and Training International (GETI), Libraries Tasmania, and TasTAFE, are advised to remain vigilant for any suspicious financial activity or attempted scams.
The Tasmanian Government is working closely with state and federal authorities to reduce the risks to individuals and organizations.
The department has apologized for any impact the incident may have caused and is committed to assisting those affected.
Additional resources have been deployed to address the situation, and further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
Individuals with questions or concerns are encouraged to review the information provided below and contact the support listed.
The department takes this situation very seriously and will continue to do everything in its power to protect the personal information of its users.
Recommendations from the govt
In an effort to reduce risk to individuals and organizations, the Tasmanian Government has recommended that affected individuals remain vigilant and stay alert for any suspicious financial activity or attempted scams. A dedicated call center has been established to provide assistance and support to those affected and can be contacted on 1800 567 567 between 9 am – 6 pm.
Individuals who are concerned for their immediate safety should contact Tasmania Police on 000.
In addition to the call center, there are a number of resources and supports available to those impacted by the data breach. The Australian Cyber Security Centre website (http://www.cyber.gov.au) provides advice on data security, while individuals with concerns regarding financial transactions are advised to contact their financial provider. Reports can also be made to law enforcement via ReportCyber at https://www.cyber.gov.au/acsc/report.
For immediate support, 24-hour telephone assistance is available through Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 224 636), and 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).