Domestic and family violence victim-survivors in New South Wales (NSW) have been urged to take precautions after a significant data breach at the state’s Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ). The state attorney general, Michael Daley, revealed that a hacker unlawfully accessed part of the secure online court registry system via a registered account and accessed approximately 9,000 files. The breach, which was discovered during a routine maintenance check, raises concerns about the safety of victim-survivors, including children, whose details may be contained within the breached files. Acting Superintendent Jason Smith from the NSW Police Cybercrime Squad advised individuals who believe their safety has been compromised to take necessary precautions and contact local authorities if necessary. Police were informed of the breach on March 25, with cybercrime detectives working to determine the extent of the files accessed and the hacker’s motives. The government emphasized the importance of data security and has taken steps to patch the vulnerability.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/27/nsw-justice-department-data-breach-domestic-violence-ntwnfb