Electronic prescription provider MediSecure grapples with major data breach

Personal and health-related data at risk

Electronic prescription provider MediSecure grapples with major data breach

Cyber

By Roxanne Libatique

MediSecure, a provider of electronic prescription exchange services, has confirmed a cybersecurity breach involving personal and health-related data.

The breach is attributed to a third-party vendor. In response, MediSecure has implemented immediate measures to reduce any further risks to its systems.

MediSecure hit by large-scale ransomware data breach

Upon discovering the breach, MediSecure reported the issue to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner and other regulatory bodies.

The company is actively working with the Australian Digital Health Agency and the National Cyber Security Coordinator to manage and mitigate the effects of the breach. Further updates are planned to be made available on the company’s website.

“MediSecure understands the importance of transparency and will provide further updates via our website as soon as more information becomes available. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time,” it said.

Iress confirms unauthorised access to GitHub

Meanwhile, tech firm Iress is investigating an unauthorised intrusion into its GitHub user space, first detected on May 13.

Despite this security lapse, the firm said that the incident has not impacted client operations or compromised any data within its own software systems. The issue was contained to GitHub and did not extend to any client-specific data.

The security checks following the incident showed no signs of malware or other threats in Iress’s systems. The unauthorised access was linked to the misuse of a GitHub-specific security credential, which did not affect Iress’s other systems or security protocols.

Firstmac reports major cyber breach

In another cybersecurity event, Firstmac, an Australian mortgage lender, reported a major data breach due to a ransomware attack, resulting in the leak of over 500GB of data.

The company quickly secured the affected systems and is working with cybersecurity experts to delve deeper into the breach. It said the incident has not affected its operational capabilities or customer financial safety.

Firstmac is contacting customers whose personal details were compromised, offering support through IDCARE, which provides specialised identity and cyber support services in Australia.

These events emphasise the increasing challenge of cybersecurity in Australia, which has seen a marked rise in data breaches and cyber threats affecting businesses and individuals alike.

Related Stories

Keep up with the latest news and events

Join our mailing list, it’s free!