The hackers targeted the ForceNet service, a communications platform used by the military, which is run by an external provider. The platform initially told the Australian Department of Defence that no data of current or former personnel appeared to have been compromised.
At the same time, the defense department believes that some personal data, such as dates of birth and dates of enlisting may have been stolen, adding that the defense leadership is taking the matter "very seriously."
Cyberattacks have become more frequent in Australia in recent weeks: in mid-October, a cyberattack on a private health insurance company Medibank exposed personal data of at least four million current customers from Australia.