The Loop: All Medibank customers impacted by cyber attack, annual inflation hits three-decade high

Hi there. It's Wednesday, October 26 and you're reading The Loop, a quick wrap-up of today's news.

Let's start here

Medibank confirmed earlier today that the criminal entity behind the cyber attack on the company had access to the data of at least 4 million customers, some of which includes health claims.

What's not clear yet is whether that means data has been actually stolen, or just accessed.

Medibank chief executive David Koczkar has apologised and says the attack was "malicious", "deliberate" and designed to "cause maximum harm and damage" to customers.

Cybercrime expert Professor Richard Buckland has warned people not to click on links in texts or emails as the investigation continues.

What else is going on

• Official ABS figures show consumer prices have gone up 7.3 per cent over the past year, the steepest annual rise since 1990. The ABS said new housing, gas and furniture prices were the biggest contributors to a 1.8 per cent jump in prices during the September quarter
• The 12 jurors in the rape trial of Bruce Lehrmann will return to court tomorrow to continue to try to reach a verdict after more than five days of deliberations. ACT law requires a unanimous jury verdict for a finding of guilty or not guilty
• After a partnership spanning more than five decades, Doctor Who will no longer appear on the ABC after the current season. The BBC has announced a new deal with Disney+ to continue the series, and fans will need a subscription to watch future episodes. The new season will air in November 2023 to coincide with the show's 60th anniversary

• Alastair Clarkson will officially start coaching North Melbourne next week after being named in an external review into allegations of racism at former club Hawthorn. Chris Fagan, who is also named in the investigation, returned to his role with the Brisbane Lions today. They both deny any suggestion of wrongdoing or misconduct

What Australia has been searching for online

• Brittney Griner. A Russian court has rejected an appeal by the US basketballer against her nine-year prison sentence on charges of drug smuggling and possession.
• Rishi Sunak's height. I can't tell you why thousands of people are looking up how tall the new British prime minister is. I can tell you he's 5'6, or about 1.7m (well, according to British GQ anyway).

You're up to date

Thanks for reading.

ABC/wires