THE HON MARK DREYFUS KC MP
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
CABINET SECRETARY
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
Mobile app to protect identity credentials from cyber crooks
The Albanese Government will provide an additional $11 million in the 2024-25 Budget for a mobile app and secure website that will enable all Australians to easily and swiftly protect their identity credentials from cyber crooks.
The funding over four years will build on the success of the Credential Protection Register which allows Australians to see when and how their identity credentials are being used to verify their identity, regardless of whether their credentials have been compromised.
Since it was established in October 2022 following the Optus data breach, the Register has blocked over 300,000 attempts to use stolen identity credentials.
The Register enables people who have had their personal details stolen to quickly lock down their information to prevent their data being used for identity crime and theft.
This in turn disrupts black market sales of stolen personal documents and illegal activities that rely on those stolen credentials including scams, money laundering and fraud.
The mobile application will allow an individual to be notified, in real time, if someone is using their identity without their consent.
Individuals will then be able to act immediately to control their identity credentials by enabling or disabling their use for verification.
These changes will give Australians full control of when and how their identity credentials are being used and allow them to disrupt illegal use of their identity.
This funding is in addition to the $3.3 million provided by the Government in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook to enhance the Register.
For more information on how to protect your identity – visit the IDMatch website.
Sunday, 5 May 2024
