Hardware FixRecommendedDevice not working? Your driver may be the problemCheck updates for common hardware issues.Fix DriversOctober DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsWindows FixRecommendedWindows errors stealing your time? Find the fix fastScan stability, cleanup and performance issues.Fix Now×
Skip to content
The Finance Base
The Money Desk · Blog
Re:

Medibank Data Breach: What Happened and What Customers Should Do

Medibank estimated that its October 2022 cyber incident affected about 9.7 million people. Here’s what information was involved, how to respond and what is known about the OAIC proceedings.
From TheFinanceBase Team4 min to read
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Medibank reported that its October 2022 cyber incident affected about 9.7 million current and former customers, authorised representatives and international customers across Medibank and ahm. Information involved varied by person and could include contact details, identity information and health claims data. Some personal information was later published on the dark web, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) says.

How many people were affected?

In a 1 December 2022 company update, Medibank estimated that around 9.7 million people were affected: about 5.1 million Medibank customers, 2.8 million ahm customers and 1.8 million international customers. The company described the total as including current and former customers and some authorised representatives. These are approximate figures reported by Medibank, not a separately verified count.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The OAIC describes unauthorised access to records of current, former and prospective Medibank customers, including ahm and international customers and authorised representatives. It says some personal information was released on the dark web. The OAIC’s incident information also explains a separate representative-complaint process and its relationship to the Federal Court class action.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

What information was exposed?

The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) lists the following types of information among data involved in the incident. This does not mean every item applied to every affected person:

#1 Best Overall
RFID Wallet Women, Small Slim Trifold Wallet Anti-Theft Pop up Card Holder
  • 【RFID Protection】This women's RFID-blocking wallet features advanced technology to protect your personal information from electronic theft, keeping you safe while traveling or on the go
  • 【Compact Design】This slim women's wallet is perfect for those who prefer minimalist designs. Its compact size lets you carry all your essentials without bulk, making it ideal for everyday use
  • 【Spacious Capacity】With room for 9–11 cards, this wallet holds all your essential credit cards and IDs while staying slim. The inner pockets also provide extra storage for cash and additional cards
  • 【Quality Craftsmanship】Made from premium leather and aircraft-grade aluminum, this women's wallet combines durability with elegance. Its carefully crafted design ensures both style and long-lasting use, making it a reliable everyday accessory
  • 【Perfect Gift Choice】Whether for birthdays, graduations, valentine’s day, anniversaries, or other special occasions, this leather women’s wallet comes elegantly packaged—a thoughtful gift for wife, girlfriend, mother, daughters or loved ones who appreciate quality and style.
  • Names, addresses, dates of birth, phone numbers and email addresses.
  • Medicare numbers for some ahm customers; the ACSC says Medicare expiry dates were not involved.
  • Passport numbers for some international students; the ACSC says passport expiry dates were not involved.
  • Some health claims data.

See the ACSC’s Medibank incident guidance for its description of the information and security steps.

What should affected customers do?

Watch for scams and unusual activity

Be wary of unexpected calls, messages or emails that refer to Medibank, ahm, a claim or exposed personal details. Do not follow links or give out passwords, verification codes or financial information in response. Monitor your financial and other accounts and devices for activity you do not recognise. Report suspicious activity to the relevant organisation or agency, your bank and IDCARE as appropriate. The ACSC recommends keeping devices updated, enabling multi-factor authentication, making regular backups and limiting account access to what is needed.

Rank #2
SaiTech IT 5 Pack RFID Blocking Card for Credit Debit ID Card, Black
  • SECURE YOUR WALLET FROM e-PICKPOCKETING: Prevent potential identity and financial theft through your contactless cards. This is the simplest and most effective prevention solution! Block RFID and NFC signals, protect your personal information, and enjoy peace of mind wherever your travels or business take you.
  • JAMMING CHIP: An antenna and jamming chip makes up the main components of the card. The antenna will sense incoming radio waves and draw power for the chip to create a jamming signal. Lifetime usage as the card does not require battery.
  • BROAD WORKING DISTANCE: With a 2.4” working distance, your entire wallet stays protected. The premium RFID blocking card helps secure cards within 1.2” on either side, providing reliable protection against electronic pickpocketing.
  • ULTRA-THIN & COMPACT: At the size of a standard credit card and at only 0.03” thick, the card will fit into any wallet, purse or card case. Keep your wallet compact with no added bulk from this card. Best for travel, business, and everyday use.
  • TEST THE CARD: Test the card is working at your local supermarket. At the self-service checkout machines, combine the card and a contactless card on the payment reader. Payment with the contactless card will be blocked and an error message should occur on the reader.

Contact your insurer, bank or identity-support service

The OAIC’s 25 October 2022 advice told potentially affected Medibank and ahm customers to contact their insurer, and people concerned about identity compromise to contact their bank and IDCARE. That advice page is dated; check current contact details and service availability before calling. If you receive a message claiming to be from one of these organisations, use contact details from its official website rather than the message.

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Replace an exposed Medicare card if needed

If you believe your Medicare card was exposed, the ACSC says you can replace it at no cost through myGov. This guidance concerns Medicare cards; it is not a general replacement process for passports or other identity documents.

Rank #3
Sale
RUNBOX Wallet for Men Slim Leather Bifold RFID Blocking with 2 ID Windows
  • Slim and Thin Wallet - This minimalist bifold wallet measures 4.3x3.2x0.6 inches and stores up to 15 cards. The bifold wallet perfectly fits in your pocket and is well-suited for everyday carry
  • Elite Features - 2 ID windows (DL & Other ID Cards) and 2 quick slots allow for quick access during travel, shopping or work. With 15 card slots and 2 more slots behind them, it is easy to carry all your important cards,cash and bills, meet all your daily needs
  • RFID Blocking- Our wallets are equipped with advanced RFID SECURE Technology, a unique metal composite, engineered specifically to block 13.56 MHz or higher RFID signals and protect the valuable information stored on RFID chips from unauthorized scans.License and ID cards will be protected effectively. No more worrying about unauthorized scans during travel, shopping, or daily commuting!
  • Durable Surface - Our leather wallets are pressed with high quality 3 layers leather, which is more durable than 2 layers leather wallets. The surface of the leather is made more scratch-resistant by special treatment, which can effectively prevent small scratches caused by keys and buttons in life
  • Gifts for him - The thin wallet comes in classy gift packaging. It is a perfect present for birthdays, anniversaries, Father's Day, Valentine's Day, Christmas and other special occasions, so you can easily gift it to someone you love

Consider multi-factor authentication

Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on accounts that offer it, especially email and financial accounts. MFA adds a verification step beyond a password. A compatible hardware security key is one option on services that support it, but it is not required, cannot undo information already exposed and does not prevent every form of identity misuse. The ACSC recommends MFA generally rather than endorsing a particular product.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What is the status of the OAIC legal action?

On 5 June 2024, the OAIC announced that the Australian Information Commissioner had filed civil penalty proceedings against Medibank in the Federal Court. The Commissioner alleged that, from March 2021 to October 2022, Medibank seriously interfered with the privacy of 9.7 million Australians by failing to take reasonable steps to protect their personal information. This is an allegation, not a finding that the court has made.

Rank #4
Kaabao Credit Card Holder Small RFID Blocking Wallet Business Metal Slim Mini Aluminum Hard Case for Women Men Gift (Lrises)
  • RFID Blocking Technology: This credit card holder is made of aluminum shells and ABS plastic, designed with RFID-blocking technology to help protect your credit, ID, debit, and driver's license cards from unauthorized scanning
  • Slim Compact: Slim and compact design measures 4.3 x 3 x 0.86 inches, ideal for front pockets or purses
  • Card Organizer: With 7 accordion-style slots, this wallet can hold up to 10 standard credit cards or over 20 business cards
  • Artistic Expression: Features a variety of artistic designs on the aluminum shell, inspired by famous paintings, flowers, and animals, to complement your personal style
  • Thoughtful Gift Idea: Makes a thoughtful gift for any occasion, combining functionality and style

The OAIC said the proceedings concern Australian Privacy Principle 11.1, which requires reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. It stated that the court could impose up to $2,220,000 per contravention at the penalty rate applicable to the alleged period. That was a possible maximum, not an imposed penalty; whether a penalty would be ordered and its amount were for the court to decide.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

An OAIC disclosure-log brief current at 25 November 2024 reported that the OAIC had amended its statement of claim and Medibank was required to file its defence by 13 December 2024. The OAIC’s September 2024 breach report described the matter as before the Federal Court and subject to case management. These cited updates do not establish the case’s precise status on 4 October 2026 or a final judgment. For current procedural information, check the court record and the OAIC’s Medibank breach page.

Best Value
HIMI Wallet for Men-Genuine Leather RFID Blocking Bifold Stylish Wallet With 2 ID Window (Vintage Black)
  • GENUINE LEATHER: Precious Genuine Vegetable Tanned Cowhide Leather with nice and smooth texture, really soft & comfortable to touch. Vegetable tanned Leather is a luxury leather. It uses natural ingredients instead of chemicals, so it is environmentally friendly.
  • ELITE FEATURES: 2 ID windows (DL & Other ID Cards) allow for quick access when traveling or at the store /working place. With 8 card slots and 2 more slots behind them, it’s easy to carry all your important cards, meet all your daily needs.
  • RFID BLOCKING SECURITY: Our wallets are equipped with advanced RFID SECURE Technology, a unique metal composite, engineered specifically to block 13.56 MHz or higher RFID signals and protect the valuable information stored on RFID chips from unauthorized scans.
  • COMPACT DESIGN: Making this bifold superb for travel, and everyday use, keeping cards safe and organized! It holds 10+ cards, and lots of cash!
  • GIFT BOX PACKING: It is one of the most special gifts for Groomsmen, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Father's Day, Christmas and other Special Occasions.

How the representative complaint differs from the class action

The OAIC says its representative-complaint process is separate from the Federal Court class action. Its notice explains that potential class-member status depends on whether an individual’s personal information was exposed and sets out options for remaining in or withdrawing from the representative complaint. Those choices may have legal consequences; read the current OAIC notice and linked legal resources before deciding. This general explanation is not individual legal advice.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More post from the Money Desk

  1. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 267 minMortgage Escrow FAQs: Taxes, Insurance, Shortages, and Refunds
  2. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow Mortgage Escrow Accounts Work and What Homeowners Pay For
  3. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow to Read a Stock Chart, Volume and Market-Cap Data
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.