International students and the Medibank Private cyber incident
The Australian Government recognizes the Medibank Private cyber incident is very stressful for affected international students.
The Australian Government, including the Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, the Australian Federal Police (AFP), and other government regulators, is working closely with Medibank Private to understand the implications of the cyber incident.
The Department of Education has released a factsheet outlining the resources and assistance international students can access during this difficult time.
Medibank Private has an information page for its customers on the cyber incident including details of a customer support package.
The Department of Education will continue to share information as it comes to hand.
Cyber Security 101: How to Outsmart Scammers & Stay Safe Online
It seems that cyber security is top of mind for most people across Australia, particularly given the recent large-scale hacks that have targeted major companies like Optus and Medibank. Unfortunately, many international students have found themselves right in the middle of these incidents, with thousands having been informed their data was breached in some way.
Sadly, international students being affected by hacks and scams isn’t unheard of. In fact, many scams have emerged over the years that specifically target the international student community in Australia.
So, how do you protect yourself when you’re away from home, speaking a foreign language and aren’t always sure what’s official and who’s trustworthy? We’re here to help you answer those exact questions.
Read on to learn more about the most common types of scams, the warning signs and how to protect yourself.