Hacking data shocks as Aussies rushing to change passwords

NEARLY 25 per cent of adult Australians claim their personal digital data has been “hacked” or stolen amid widespread concerns after a spate of damaging cyber attacks.

One in five Australians have cancelled their online subscriptions in the past month, underscoring the economic vandalism caused by cyber criminals behind the Optus and Medibank data breaches.

For the first time a national survey of 1200 people by SEC Newgate has revealed the level of public concern over the safety of personal digital data.

And the results show younger people aged 18 to 34 are more likely to take action to reduce the risk of further data damage.

As the Albanese government prepares to dramatically increase fines for data and privacy breaches, 23 per cent of those surveyed say they have “definitely” had their personal data hacked or stolen.

Another 19 per cent say they believe this may have happened to them, suggesting nearly half the population could have been the victims of costly cyber attacks and data breaches.

According to the national survey, 71 per cent claim they have changed their online password in the past month while 64 per cent have set-up two-factor authentication in a bid to reduce the risk of being hacked.

Of the 21 per cent who have cancelled online subscriptions, younger people aged 18 to 34 per cent are more likely (28 per cent) to have acted compared with just 16 per cent of those aged 50-plus.

And people aged 35 to 49 per cent are more likely to have suffered a data breach or been hacked (52 per cent) compared with 47 per cent of those aged 18 to 34 and those 50-plus (33 per cent).