Australia under a State Based Cyber attack, Business and Government

[chameleon54]

The Prime Minister called an early press conference this morning to announce that Australia is currently under a state based cyber attack. Businesses, Government departments, health and transport services are all being targeted.

So is this an extension of Beef and Barley, or is it some-one else stirring the pot while we are having difficulties with our largest trading partner ?

https://www.9news.com.au/national/cyber-attack-australia-scott-morrison-government-private-sector-br... 

[icyfroth]

This may be the next crisis on the agenda.

[debra9275]

he said the same things back in Feb so I don't know why he'd be bringing it up again today

a deflection from something else perhaps??

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-18/prime-minister-scott-morrison-cyber-attack-hackers/10821170

"Our cyber experts believe that a sophisticated state actor is responsible for this malicious activity," Mr Morrison told Parliament.

dated 18th feb 20202

[not_for_sale2025]

"The prime minister said intrusions on Australia's cyber network were "not new".

"But frequency has been increasing," Mr Morrison said."

"They are not new risks but they are specific risks.  "And to advise you how Australians and particularly these organisations can take action to protect themselves."

[chameleon54]

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@debra9275 wrote:

he said the same things back in Feb so I don't know why he'd be bringing it up again today

a deflection from something else perhaps??

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-18/prime-minister-scott-morrison-cyber-attack-hackers/10821170

"Our cyber experts believe that a sophisticated state actor is responsible for this malicious activity," Mr Morrison told Parliament.

dated 18th feb 20202

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I initially had the same thought, but with all of the scandals around the Labor party in the media at the moment, I would have thought he would be keeping his head down and leaving the media to concentrate on Labors woes. So from that perspective it doesn't make sense.

Reading various reports it appears the attacks have intensified recently, so it may very well be a concern of national interest. The fact that he called an early morning press conference rather than just a normal scheduled one also suggests something bigger may be going on behind the scenes..

[debra9275]

I found an even older one... just the same  feb 2019

https://time.com/5531655/australia-cyber-attack-foreign-government-scott-morrison/

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday accused a “sophisticated state actor” of carrying out a cyberattack that breached Parliament’s network and also affected major political parties, Reuters reports.

Morrison did not disclose which state he suspected of being behind the Feb. 8 attack, or reveal what, if any information was accessed. He did say there was no evidence of interference into the upcoming federal election in May. Lawmakers have been advised to change their passwords.

[chameleon54]

ABC says China is behind the recent increase in cyber attacks on Australia's institutions.  The Prime Ministers statements are probably designed to continue with Australia's recent hardening position to call out China on its interference in Australia's domestic affairs.

As a barley grower who stands to lose tens of thousands of dollars over the recent political argy bargy I have some concerns about our international diplomacy, but I do accept we cant keep cowering to a global bully who is intent on using us up and spitting us out. China has become much more aggressive in its international espionage and interference lately. 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-19/foreign-cyber-hack-targets-australian-government-and-business... 

[rogespeed]

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@icyfroth wrote:
This may be the next crisis on the agenda.

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Might be an idea to have an effective shadow manual backup system that is maintained in parallel with the digital version , ready to seemlessly continue the service in the event of the online system fatally crashing due to sabotage, which it most likely will during a time of a sudden onset of a belligerent international political crisis, as the source of such sabotage is difficult to prove and highly deniable  

[debra9275]

morrison always stops short of naming China,  but leaves it to to media instead....as these attacks have been going apparently for a long time now.. I wonder if his Govt's actually doing anything to try and combat the attacks?

[chameleon54]

The governments advisory of the risk of cyber attacks apparently came as a result of warnings from our national spy agencies. The advice includes warnings to business and government agencies to install appropriate " patches " and protective measures WITHIN 48 HOURS !

Somethings happening.

https://www.news.com.au/technology/online/hacking/spy-agencies-sounded-warning-on-suspected-chinese-...