Hackers steal photo ID and tax codes from 26,000 Generate KiwiSaver customers

guest · Feb 12, 2020

Hackers steal photo ID and tax codes from 26,000 Generate KiwiSaver customers
February 12, 2020
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12308117

Hackers have stolen photographic identification, tax department numbers, and personal names and addresses of some 26,000 customers of boutique KiwiSaver provider Generate in a Christmas holidays raid that targeted the most sensitive part of its website.

In a statement earlier today, Generate admitted the hack, between December 29 and January 27, had exploited weaknesses in the online application process for becoming a Generate KiwiSaver member.
Generate itself did not actively disclose the extent of the breach, saying only that "some of its members' personal information has been accessed illegitimately".

It's now confirmed all information uploaded in membership applications, including photo ID, was affected for as many as 26,000 of the 90,000 people who have invested their KiwiSaver funds with Generate since it began operations seven years ago. Some 70,000 are currently active members, according to the Generate website.

"Generate has contacted all of its members individually to confirm whether or not their own personal information is among the data that was inappropriately accessed," said chief executive Henry Tongue in a statement.
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Generate is, according to its own claims, the country's 10th largest KiwiSaver provider by customer numbers, and is the 11th largest by funds under managment, with $1.8 billion in members' savings, according to Morningstar's December 2019 KiwiSaver funds research update, published this week. That gives the company a 2.9 percent share of the $63.1 billion market.
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guest · Feb 20, 2020

Generate KiwiSaver hack victim considers legal action
February 20, 2020
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/410026/generate-kiwisaver-hack-victim-considers-legal-action

A victim of the Generate KiwiSaver hack is considering legal action to seek compensation for stress and the risk of identity theft.

John James Campbell told RNZ Business he was awaiting legal advice to decide whether to proceed with a case against Generate.
Initial advice suggested the KiwiSaver provider was a complicated business structure with its owners likely protected from any fallout, he said.

"It would be difficult, but not impossible, to actually get any real compensation," Campbell said.
He had laid a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner, changed his email address, passwords for online accounts, and froze his credit reports to prevent identity fraud.
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Hackers steal photo ID and tax codes from 26,000 Generate KiwiSaver customers

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