Optus cyber-attack leaves customers feeling ‘powerless’ over risk of identity theft

An email from Optus CEO, Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, was sent on Friday afternoon saying ‘no financial information or passwords’ were accessed in the cyber-attack. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

Optus customers caught up in a cyber-attack that may have exposed the personal information of 9.8 million people say they are angry and concerned about having been exposed to the risk of identity fraud.

Emails from Optus to customers caught up in the data breach began landing in people’s inboxes about 4pm on Friday, roughly 24 hours after the attack was first reported.