The Guardian

Corporate watchdog Asic in privacy breach exposing users' search history

Exclusive: Glitch on website allows anyone to find out what other users have been researching, possibly compromising company mergers or investigations
Queensland’s privacy commissioner said the apparent breach was a ‘cause for concern’. Photograph: Alamy

Australia’s corporate regulator has committed a serious privacy breach via a flaw in its website that exposes the search records of anyone tapping into its company database.

The breach, which opens up free backdoor access to company search histories, including by investigative journalists and finance industry professionals, remained live on the Australian Securities and Investments Commission site on Wednesday night.

Asic was alerted to the problem 12 days ago and it is understood

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