Australia's rising data breaches: What can you do to protect your information?

Australians face rising data breaches as hacking attacks increase, with experts urging consumers to demand change and companies to collect less personal information. A recent hack of Australia's Medicare statistics portal by an AI agent marks the first known such attack on a government website. Cyber security expert Mihai Lazarescu says organisations lack resources to manage threats, calling the system "fundamentally broken" and suggesting some businesses consider paper records. Data breach notifications rose 8 per cent in 2025, with major incidents affecting Optus, Origin Energy and Medibank customers. Experts recommend individuals share less data online, avoid posting sensitive details on social media, and not enter personal information into AI programs. They also call for stronger enforcement of privacy laws and audits of companies to ensure compliance with the Privacy Act 1988.