Victoria’s court system faced a cyber-attack with hackers gaining access to several weeks of recorded hearings, raising concerns about the compromise of sensitive information. Court Services Victoria (CSV) discovered the breach on December 21, originating from a compromise in the audio-visual technology network on November 1. The unauthorized access affected video and audio recordings in various courts, including the supreme, county, magistrates, and coroner’s courts. CSV’s chief executive, Louise Anderson, assured that the potential access was confined to recordings stored on the network, and no other court systems, employee data, or financial records were compromised.
The breach included recordings from the children’s court, which has strict privacy measures to protect minors’ identities. CSV promptly isolated and disabled the affected network to ensure the continuity of court operations. Witnesses and participants in hearings where recordings may have been accessed will be notified, and a dedicated support contact center has been established to assist those affected. CSV is working to re-establish the affected network, and arrangements have been made to allow hearings to continue during this process. Security measures across the court and tribunal-wide technology system will be enhanced as part of the restoration efforts.
The acting Victorian premier, Ben Carroll, emphasized that Victoria Police are collaborating closely with CSV, and although the hack was contained well, individuals with evidence are encouraged to come forward. The incident underscores the importance of heightened vigilance by government agencies in the face of a growing number of cyber-attacks. The breach highlights the ongoing challenges posed by cybersecurity threats and emphasizes the need for robust measures to safeguard sensitive legal information and maintain the integrity of court systems in the digital age.ect against such breaches that could jeopardize critical company data and compromise confidential information.
