Optus suffers major security breach

Internet service provider Cable and Wireless Optus (CWO) was forced to advise all of its customers to change their passwords after a security breach yesterday.

CWO, which provides Internet access through Optusnet, Microplex and DingoBlue, informed its 100,000 customers that the security of their login passwords may have been jeopardised after a hacker gained access to some accounts.

The intruder is believed to have hacked through customer passwords and user IDs.

Optus, which has reported the intrusion to police, plans to review its security procedures.