Additional security measures will include around one million new licenses being issued to Victorians following the Optus data breach.
VicRoads said victims will receive new cards with an additional security number on the back, which will work in the same way security codes are used on credit and debit cards.
More than 942,000 Victorian license holders had their data compromised as a result of the Optus data breach, a Department for Transport spokesman said. Around a million new licenses will be issued to Victorians whose privacy was breached as part of October’s Optus hack. (new)
“The Victorian Government is accelerating protections for license holders in response to the Optus data breach by introducing two-step verification and replacing almost one million licenses free of charge,” the spokesman said.
“The Optus data breach is the largest in Australian history and Victorian licensees have been hit harder than any other state.”
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About 342,000 Victorians marked as directly affected by the breach will receive their new cards by the end of the year.
This group will also have their license marked on Victoria’s license register and will also move to the new two-step verification approach to protect their identity.
The new process will require both the new card number and the original license number for proof of identity to prove your identity for services such as opening bank accounts, loan applications, phone contracts and real estate transactions .
The second card number would become a feature of all new and replacement Victorian driving licences.
More than 942,000 Victorian licensees had their data compromised due to the Optus data breach. (new)
The spokesman said in the coming weeks the redesigned licenses will begin to be issued free of charge to those affected.
These people will receive their new cards before the end of the year.
“The Victorian Government will continue to seek reimbursement from Optus for the replacement of the nearly one million licenses of Victorians affected by the largest data breach in Australian history,” the spokesman said.