Over the past couple of days, telecommunications company Vodafone has been on hot water because of reports that the company has hacked 28 days'worth of private messages from a journalist's phone. Vodafone has faced similar allegations in 2011 and 2012. The latest breaching issue has prompted other personalities to say that the company has "no respect" for privacy.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Fairfax journalist Natalie O'Brien has turned up a story of Vodafone having security flaws in its system. Shortly after the story has been released, employees in the company have discussed infiltrating the investigative journalist's cell phone to dig out where the story came from. Two employees have reportedly been involved in the breach. One is already working with another telecommunications company.
The messages have been downloaded from a Vodafone "hard drive", Fairfax Media has been told. Contents have included private email and text messages which are both sent and received by O'Brien's phone. The company has enlisted KPMG to investigate activities related to the company, and KPMG in turn has provided the company a copy of the spreadsheet which details the exchanges.
The company's division in Australia has already admitted that one of its former employees has been responsible for illegally accessing the messages in O'Brien's phone. Vodafone has issued an apology and a defense addressing the situation. The apology has been issued on Sept. 15, Tuesday, saying Vodafone Australia has contacted O'Brien to apologise for the former employee's actions.
Vodafone has initially denied the allegations of the breach but has since expressed that it will fully cooperate with investigators. "Current VHA management is taking this matter extremely seriously and is reporting it to NSW Police and Australian Federal Police. We have also updated the Privacy Commissioner and the Australian Communications and Media Authority about the matter." The apology read. O'Brien has not issued a response to the company.
