Category: Australia Tech News

Quick Read

• Russian hackers breached Microsoft’s systems and gained access to customer emails.
• Microsoft revealed that the breach took place approximately six months ago.
• The breach has resulted in heightened regulatory examination of Microsoft’s security measures.
• A purported Chinese hacking group had earlier broken into Microsoft, aiming at emails from the US government.
• Microsoft is actively informing impacted customers and distributing compromised emails.
• The company is revamping its security procedures in response to the breaches.

Summary of the Security Violation

Earlier this year, Russian hackers who breached Microsoft’s systems not only monitored employee inboxes but also exfiltrated emails from customers. This incident, revealed roughly six months after it first took place, has subjected Microsoft to heightened regulatory inspection.

Regulatory Scrutiny

The extensive nature of the breach has led regulators to worry about the safety of Microsoft’s software and systems in relation to foreign threats. This event comes after a different breach attributed to a purported Chinese hacking group last year, which resulted in the compromise of thousands of US government emails.

Information About the Breach

The Russian authorities have yet to address the hacking accusations, but Microsoft has reported that the hackers aimed at cybersecurity researchers examining the group’s actions. Microsoft has been alerting clients whose emails were breached by the Midnight Blizzard threat actor.

Customer Notifications

Microsoft is still providing updates on compromised emails to the affected customers. While it hasn’t revealed the total number of impacted customers or the amount of stolen emails, the company remains dedicated to maintaining transparency as the investigation goes on.

Ongoing Security Concerns

In January, Microsoft disclosed that Midnight Blizzard had infiltrated a minor portion of its corporate email accounts. Despite ongoing efforts to fortify its systems, the hackers persisted in their intrusion attempts, raising concerns among security experts and customers.

Microsoft’s Response

Due to the ongoing security violations, including the Chinese cyberattack from the previous year, there was a Congressional hearing in which Microsoft President Brad Smith announced that the company is revamping its security protocols to avert future breaches.

Summary

The latest breaches at Microsoft by hackers from Russia and China have revealed major weaknesses in the company’s security framework. As Microsoft undergoes regulatory investigation and strives to improve its security measures, impacted customers are being informed and provided with access to their affected emails. This incident highlights the escalating necessity for strong cybersecurity practices as the world becomes more digital.

Can you explain the details of the incident involving the Microsoft security breach?

Russian hackers breached Microsoft’s systems, gaining access to employee and customer emails. The incident was revealed approximately six months after it took place.

How many customers were impacted by the breach?

Microsoft has yet to reveal the specific number of customers affected or the amount of emails stolen, but they are in the process of informing those affected.

Q: Can you explain what Midnight Blizzard is?

The Russian hacking group known as Midnight Blizzard is behind the breach of Microsoft’s systems, leading to the compromise of customer emails.

Q: Has Microsoft responded to the breach in any way?

A: Yes, Microsoft is in the process of revamping its security procedures and has been informing impacted customers about the breached emails.

Q: What additional data breaches has Microsoft encountered lately?

Furthermore, an alleged Chinese hacking group infiltrated Microsoft last year, compromising thousands of US government emails, in addition to the Russian cyberattack.

Q: What effect has this breach had on Microsoft’s reputation?

The breach has subjected Microsoft to heightened regulatory examination and sparked concerns among its security peers and customers regarding the susceptibility of its systems.

Quick Read

• The ATO will transition from receiving data biannually to daily data ingestion from Services Australia beginning next month.
• The goal of the initiative is to speed up the processing of Medicare levy exemption claims.
• This modification is a component of the “specified benefits and entitlements data-matching initiative” that was first introduced in 2016-17.
• During the 2021-22 period, data-matching verified 99% of Medicare Exemption Statements (MES).
• The ATO expects to handle approximately 180,000 MES checks each year.
• Ingesting data on a daily basis will tackle inefficiencies arising from exemption claims made at various times during the financial year.

Transitioning to Daily Data Ingestion

Starting next month, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will change from receiving data from Services Australia twice a year to a daily basis. This move is intended to speed up the processing of returns involving claims for Medicare levy and surcharge exemptions. The data is vital for the ATO’s discrepancy detection models, which analysts use to confirm the validity of exemption claims.

Qualifications and Requests for Exemptions

Individuals who were not eligible for Medicare for the entire financial year may request an exemption from the Medicare levy, as stated on the Services Australia website. This exemption applies to certain citizens, permanent residents, New Zealanders, and specific visa holders, particularly those who have not applied for permanent residency or are not covered by Medicare under their country’s reciprocal healthcare agreement.

Benefits of Collecting Data Daily

An ATO representative informed TechBest that gathering data daily would enhance client services by allowing more prompt processing of Medicare levy exemption claims. The ATO originally introduced the “specified benefits and entitlements data-matching program” in the 2016-17 financial year. As an example, during the 2021-22 period, 133,151 individuals had an MES, with 99% being verified through data-matching.

Expected Growth in Data Volume

The ATO anticipates a significant increase in the number of checks to be conducted—approximately 180,000 each year—highlighting the growing importance of daily access to MES data. The projected data population has increased due to the rise in temporary residents and their awareness of their eligibility for an MES.

Enhancing Data Precision and Processing Efficiency

Modifying the discrepancy detection models to receive daily MES data will also address inefficiencies arising from exemption claims made at varying times during the financial year. For instance, a claim for the 2022-23 financial year can be submitted within the 2023-24 and 2024-25 financial years. The ATO has revised its collection process to enhance the timeliness of information for validation, consequently reducing the need to reach out to taxpayers.

Additional Data-Matching Initiatives by the ATO

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website identifies 26 active data-matching programs with different purposes, data ingestion intervals, data retention durations, data sources, and timeframes for the external records. For example, a recently renewed initiative focuses on landlords who fail to declare or underreport rental income and operates on a biannual basis. The majority of the ATO’s discrepancy detection systems involve data-sharing agreements with other government agencies, but some also include private sector collaborators such as Tyro Payments, Westpac, and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA).

Summary

The Australian Taxation Office’s initiative to transition to daily data collection from Services Australia intends to greatly improve the accuracy and efficiency of processing Medicare levy exemption claims. This adjustment is part of a larger strategy that includes various data-matching programs aimed at ensuring compliance and simplifying tax-related procedures.

Q&A

Why is the ATO transitioning to daily data ingestion?

The ATO seeks to enhance both the speed and precision of processing Medicare levy exemption claims by accessing more current information.

Who is eligible to request an exemption from the Medicare levy?

Individuals who are not eligible for Medicare for the entire financial year may include certain citizens, permanent residents, New Zealanders, and holders of specific visas.

How successful was the former twice-yearly system?

In the 2021-22 period, 99% of Medicare Exemption Statements (MES) were confirmed through biannual data-matching. Nonetheless, the anticipated implementation of daily data collection could improve efficiency even more.

Q: What is the expected annual number of MES checks that the ATO plans to process?

The ATO expects to handle approximately 180,000 MES checks annually.

What other data-matching programs are operated by the ATO?

The ATO runs 26 active data-matching programs that involve diverse use cases, ingestion frequencies, and third-party data providers. These programs target landlords who underreport their rental income and include collaborations with financial institutions to match credit and debit card data.