The second-largest telecommunications company in Australia, Optus, suffered a significant cybersecurity breach 12 days ago, and its owner Singapore Telecommunications or Singtel on Monday said it is still trying to estimate the possible cost of the damage caused.

Singtel's statement came amid reports that it might end up paying significant compensation for the theft of sensitive information from 10 million users. Although the telecommunication firm is said to have hired lawyers to assist it, it has not received any official notice of the case, amid reports of a possible class action suit by consumers.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-launches-operation-guardian-to-protect-optus-data-breach-victims-521194">Also read |&nbsp;Australia launches 'Operation Guardian' to protect Optus data breach victims</a>

On Monday (October 3), Optus announced that Deloitte had been selected to conduct an impartial, external review of the attack.&nbsp;

The Australian government has demanded that the businesses notify the people affected and said that customers were at risk of financial crimes.

"Singtel is continuing to evaluate the potential financial implications arising from this matter and any material development will be disclosed to the market on a timely basis," the company said in a statement.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/optus-leak-over-10k-records-posted-online-writer-later-deletes-post-and-apologises-520066">Also read |&nbsp;Optus leak: Over 10K records posted online, purported hacker deletes post and apologises</a>

The Optus chief executive said in a video message that about 2.1 million of its users, out of 10 million, were compromised with their identity numbers revealed. She said that the corporation has notified all 10,000 people that the data has been leaked online and is collaborating with the police.&nbsp;

The law firm Slater &amp; Gordon and Maurice Balckburn stated that they are currently looking into the possibility of filing a case action against Optus to seek compensation for anyone who has been impacted by this incident.

Nearly 40 per cent of Australians have been impacted by this Optus cyber breach.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The second-largest telecommunications company in Australia, Optus, suffered a significant cybersecurity breach 12 days ago, and its owner Singapore Telecommunications or Singtel on Monday said it is still trying to estimate the possible cost of the damage caused.

The second-largest telecommunications company in Australia, Optus, suffered a significant cybersecurity breach 12 days ago, and its owner Singapore Telecommunications or Singtel on Monday said it is still trying to estimate the possible cost of the damage caused. Singtel's statement came amid reports that it might end up paying significant compensation for the theft of sensitive information from 10 million users. Although the telecommunication firm is said to have hired lawyers to assist it, it has not received any official notice of the case, amid reports of a possible class action suit by consumers. Also read | Australia launches 'Operation Guardian' to protect Optus data breach victims On Monday (October 3), Optus announced that Deloitte had been selected to conduct an impartial, external review of the attack. The Australian government has demanded that the businesses notify the people affected and said that customers were at risk of financial crimes. "Singtel is continuing to evaluate the potential financial implications arising from this matter and any material development will be disclosed to the market on a timely basis," the company said in a statement. Also read | Optus leak: Over 10K records posted online, purported hacker deletes post and apologises The Optus chief executive said in a video message that about 2.1 million of its users, out of 10 million, were compromised with their identity numbers revealed. She said that the corporation has notified all 10,000 people that the data has been leaked online and is collaborating with the police. The law firm Slater & Gordon and Maurice Balckburn stated that they are currently looking into the possibility of filing a case action against Optus to seek compensation for anyone who has been impacted by this incident. Nearly 40 per cent of Australians have been impacted by this Optus cyber breach. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Optus leak: Singapore Telecommunications appoints Deloitte to assess data breach

Australian telecom&nbsp;giant Optus has said that a cyberattack on it systems exposed current and former customer data. In a press release, the company said that an unspecified number of customer names, dates of birth, phone numbers, email addresses, addresses and identity document numbers, such as driver’s licence or passport numbers, were taken in the breach.

However, there was no mention of when did the breach happen. Optus is the country's second-largest provider and a subsidiary of Singapore-owned Singtel, with about 10 million customers.

Optus chief executive Kelly Bayer Rosmarin said a "sophisticated" actor was behind a cyberattack, which gained access to information about up to 9.8 million users. However, the firm said no passwords or bank details were taken.

The Australian Signals Directorate was notified about the incident. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission warned Australians who were potentially impacted, that they could be at risk of identity theft.

Rosmarin said no ransom demand had been made.

"It's too early to rule out any possibility," she said, adding that police and the Australian government were investigating.

Optus is the latest major telco hit by hackers in recent years. In 2015, Australian telco Telstra said its undersea cable company Pacnet’s internal network had been compromised, with hackers accessing its email and other internal business systems, TechCrunch reported.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Australian telecom giant Optus has said that a cyberattack on it systems exposed current and former customer data. In a press release, the company said that an unspecified number of customer names, dates of birth, phone numbers, email addresses, addresses and identity document numbers, such as driver’s licence or passport numbers, were taken in the breach.

Australian telecom giant Optus has said that a cyberattack on it systems exposed current and former customer data. In a press release, the company said that an unspecified number of customer names, dates of birth, phone numbers, email addresses, addresses and identity document numbers, such as driver’s licence or passport numbers, were taken in the breach. However, there was no mention of when did the breach happen. Optus is the country's second-largest provider and a subsidiary of Singapore-owned Singtel, with about 10 million customers. Optus chief executive Kelly Bayer Rosmarin said a "sophisticated" actor was behind a cyberattack, which gained access to information about up to 9.8 million users. However, the firm said no passwords or bank details were taken. The Australian Signals Directorate was notified about the incident. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission warned Australians who were potentially impacted, that they could be at risk of identity theft. Rosmarin said no ransom demand had been made. "It's too early to rule out any possibility," she said, adding that police and the Australian government were investigating. Optus is the latest major telco hit by hackers in recent years. In 2015, Australian telco Telstra said its undersea cable company Pacnet’s internal network had been compromised, with hackers accessing its email and other internal business systems, TechCrunch reported. (With inputs from agencies)

Australia's second-largest telecom company reports major data breach in cyberattack

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Optus leak: Singapore Telecommunications appoints Deloitte to assess data breach

Australia's second-largest telecom company reports major data breach in cyberattack