Optus and Medibank have been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately, with their security breaches that have put panic through a fair proportion of our nation.
Thankfully, I only have to worry about Medibank, as for once in my life I am glad I am a Telstra customer (Well, that is until I try and get personal service at a store, but that’s another story).
So, should I be worried about my personal information being put on the dark web by Russian criminals?
We all have been assured by Medibank that the bad guys don’t have our banking details, only our medical information, phone number and email address, so that will be a relief to a lot of folks.
I guess in my situation, if they did access my banking info and stole my cash it would be automatically in overdraft as I haven’t got any, so it would be the Bank v Russian bad guys, as you can’t squeeze juice out of a lemon that has already been pulverised?
Back to the question: am I nervous about my stuff being on the dark web?
As far as email and phone number goes, I already get multiple scams a day on both.
You know, ‘This is Telstra, I am about to turn off your Wi-Fi unless…” or, “You were recently in a car accident…” and then, of course, there’s this one, “Hello, I am a Nigerian lawyer who needs to transfer $250 million dollars and I have picked you to help me do that….”
I guess a few more won’t make much difference so, no, I am not really worried about that.
Medical history is the other burning question.
Should I be worried that my details will be exposed on the dark web?
Just in case they plan to do that, I thought I would do it in this column and beat them to it.
Firstly, my failed organ enlargement operation that went pear shaped, only outdone by my nose job! Just kidding.
I have no fear of my medical records being shared and, as I am psychosomatic and a well-known hypochondriac, I am not sure the dark web has enough space to share mine.
Anyway, I think the Russians have their hands full enough on other matters to be worried about my records.
But I do worry about who their next Australian target might be, or have they already attacked it, as Qantas looks a bit like it may have been sabotaged? Or is it just the leadership?
Ashley Robinson is a columnist with Sunshine Coast News and My Weekly Preview. His views are his own.
