MediSecure reveals about 12.9 million Australians had personal data stolen by hackers in April

MediSecure has confirmed 12.9 million people had their personal and health data stolen by hackers earlier this year. Photograph: solarseven/Getty Images/iStockphoto

The electronic prescriptions provider MediSecure has revealed 12.9 million people, or almost half of the whole country, had their personal and health data stolen by hackers earlier this year in one of the biggest breaches in Australian history.

On April 14 MediSecure, which facilitates electronic prescriptions and dispensing, became aware a database server had been encrypted by suspected ransomware.