When Your Data Lands in the Wrong Hands

The message from Netstar arrived like one of those emails you never want to see. A polite greeting. A formal notice. A quiet explanation that something had gone wrong behind the scenes. My first reaction was the same as anyone’s. A small knot in the stomach and that quick mental scan of what information they might have about me.

Netstar experienced a cybersecurity incident on 23 June 2025. The moment they picked it up they contained it and brought in legal counsel and forensic experts to figure out the scale of the problem. The early signs looked promising since there was no evidence of customer data being touched. The story changed once the same threat actors published information on a restricted site. That is usually the moment you know trouble is real.

A careful download and forensic breakdown followed. The truth is that some personal information was in that data set. Not everything. Not for everyone. The impact depends on your relationship with Netstar. The possible information ranges from names and contact details to customer numbers, identity details, banking information linked to billing, and vehicle details. Credit card information has already been flagged directly to affected customers.

This is the kind of situation that feels far away until your information is mentioned in a sentence. Suddenly the idea of phishing attempts or identity fraud becomes very personal. This is the world we live in now. Data is currency and people with enough skill can weaponise it.

Netstar has taken steps to limit the damage. The Information Regulator has been notified. Forensic teams remain on high alert. Monitoring continues in the darker corners of the internet where these actors operate. Network controls have been strengthened and internal practices tightened.

The question is what you can do for yourself. The answer is simple and powerful.

Contact your bank. Tell them your details may have been exposed. Make sure you have alerts for every transaction. Keep your limits tight. Review your app frequently. The quickest way to shut down a fraud attempt is to spot it early.

Stay alert with emails and calls. Scammers thrive on confidence and speed. They try to rush you into sharing information that feels harmless in the moment. Slow everything down. Confirm details independently. If something feels off, trust that feeling.

Use strong passwords. Use unique ones. Enable multi factor authentication. Your digital life needs the same locks and alarms you would install in your home.

Register with SAFPS for protective monitoring. It adds a useful barrier against identity fraud and you lose nothing by having it in place.

Cybersecurity is not an IT problem anymore. It is a life skill. Incidents like these remind us how quickly information can travel, shift hands, and be misused. The goal is not to live in fear. The goal is to stay aware, stay steady, and take a few smart steps that make you a difficult target.

Your information has value. Treat it like something worth protecting.