Data and computer security | The Guardian
Canvas hack: is it ever a good idea to pay a ransom, and what happens to the data? 16 May 2026 at 20:00

Canvas hack: is it ever a good idea to pay a ransom, and what happens to the data?

Data and computer security | The Guardian

16 May 2026 at 20:00

Businesses are advised against paying – but many are prepared to deal to protect users’ privacy

After a week of outages, hundreds of millions of students’ data stolen, delayed assignment due dates and school login pages being defaced by hackers, the US tech firm Instructure – which operates the education platform Canvas, used by education providers worldwide – announced it had “reached an agreement with the unauthorised actor” behind the ransomware attack.

Experts read the careful language as a sign that a ransom has been paid. The company has not confirmed this.

Data and computer security | The Guardian
Developer withdraws plans for Perth datacentre after fierce community opposition 15 May 2026 at 10:57

Developer withdraws plans for Perth datacentre after fierce community opposition

Data and computer security | The Guardian

By: Josh Taylor Technology reporter

15 May 2026 at 10:57

Three-storey GreenSquare datacentre in Hazelmere was to power cloud computing and the acceleration of AI

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A 15,000 sq metre datacentre near Perth will no longer go ahead after the developer withdrew plans amid community opposition over its impact on culturally significant sites.

The three-storey, 120-megawatt GreenSquare datacentre in the town of Hazelmere had been intended to power cloud computing and the acceleration of artificial intelligence, but faced fierce community backlash – as is increasingly common with such developments.

Rental platform unnecessarily collected the data of millions of Australians, privacy commissioner finds

Data and computer security | The Guardian

By: Josh Taylor Technology reporter

22 April 2026 at 05:47

2Apply’s over-collection of personal information adds to the power of the real estate industry in the competitive rental market, Carly Kind says

An online rental platform has been urged to stop collecting users’ personal information after the Australian privacy commissioner found the gathering of “excessive” data compounded the vulnerability of tenants amid the housing crisis.

RentTech platforms are increasingly used by real estate agents in Australia for people applying for rental properties to submit applications and supporting documentation. The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute has identified 57 different rent platforms operating in Australia.

A Victorian schoolteacher was applying for ‘heaps of rentals’ online – then someone accessed his bank account

Data and computer security | The Guardian

By: Josh Taylor Technology reporter

6 February 2026 at 15:00

Michael suspects personal information he submitted to rent application platforms was leaked online. And analysis shows millions of documents may also be at risk

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Michael* has spent the past two months trying to get his digital identity back.

The 47-year-old Victorian schoolteacher was in the process of moving to a new town and applying for rental properties online. Around this time – and unbeknown to him – his mobile phone number was transferred to someone else.

Real estate agents in Australia using apps that leave millions of lease documents at risk, digital researcher says

Data and computer security | The Guardian

By: Josh Taylor Technology reporter

1 February 2026 at 15:00

Exclusive: ‘This is a blatant and disturbing disregard for the law and for people’s security,’ digital rights advocate says

Australian platforms used by real estate agents to upload documentation for renters and landlords are leaving people’s personal information exposed in hyperlinks accessible online.

An analysis of seven rent platforms provided to Guardian Australia by a researcher, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed millions of leasing documents could be accessed by threat actors.

Data and computer security | The Guardian
Knee-jerk corporate responses to data leaks protect brands like Qantas — but consumers are getting screwed 1 November 2025 at 20:00

Knee-jerk corporate responses to data leaks protect brands like Qantas — but consumers are getting screwed

Data and computer security | The Guardian

By: Josh Taylor Technology reporter

1 November 2025 at 20:00

When courts ban people from accessing leaked data – as happened after the airline’s data breach – only hackers and scammers win

It’s become the playbook for big Australian companies that have customer data stolen in a cyber-attack: call in the lawyers and get a court to block anyone from accessing it.

Qantas ran it after suffering a major cybersecurity attack that accessed the frequent flyer details of 5 million customers.

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