Cyber Incident (05 Apr 2023)

Dear Colleagues

In recent weeks, you may have heard that the Tasmanian Government is investigating a possible theft of data from a third-party file transfer service, GoAnywhere MFT, which is used by a number of Government Agencies. A vulnerability in this software was exploited globally and the Tasmanian Government may be one of many victims.

Today the Minister for Science and Technology has made a statement, updating Tasmanians on the investigation as part of her ongoing commitment to keeping Tasmanians informed as information comes to hand.

In her statement, the Minister has advised that investigations have now identified the types of information that may have been compromised.  It is important to note that at this stage there is no proof that anything has been stolen, however, there is a risk that financial data from the Department for Education, Children and Young People may have been compromised.

The financial data may include names, addresses, invoices and bank account numbers.

It is important for everyone in our community to be aware of the possible theft, remain vigilant, and stay alert for any suspicious financial activity or attempted scams.

The Government is continuing to closely monitor and investigate the situation and will act immediately if there are any changes.

There are a number of resources and support services that Tasmanians can access in relation to data security and financial crime.

If you would like more information on data security, you can access Australian Government advice from the Australian Cyber Security Centre website at www.cyber.gov.au.

If you have any concerns regarding financial transactions, please contact your financial provider.

You can also report to law enforcement via ReportCyber at https://www.cyber.gov.au/acsc/report.

If this information raises any concerns for you, please reach out to your Agency’s Employee Assistance resources.

Finally, I would like to reiterate that today’s update is precautionary and is about ensuring that we are aware of the potential risks and remain alert.

Jenny Gale