Jubilee Post News & Views
Special Desk
Hackers are troubling Australian government and institutions in the cyber world. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned terming this a ongoing sophisticated state-based cyber hacks.
Morrison said the cyber attacks were widespread, covering “all levels of government” as well as essential services and businesses. He declined to identify a specific state actor. The attacks are increasing.
The prime minister said his announcement was intended to raise public awareness and to urge businesses to improve their defences and stressed that malicious activity was also being seen globally, making it not unique to Australia.
Morrison did not name specific cases but said it had spanned “government, industry, political organisations, education, health, essential service providers and operators of other critical infrastructure”.
Morrison said officials had identified it as a state hack “because of the scale and nature of the targeting and the trade craft used”. “There are not a large number of state-based actors that can engage in this type of activity,” he said, without giving specifics. But denied making any public attribution.
A news agency has previously reported that Australian intelligence agencies suspected China of carrying out the parliament hack in 2019. Many political, educational and health organisations have been targeted by a state-based cyber actor with significant capabilities.
Despite blaming a sophisticated state actor, he refused to name names – even after being directly asked about the country almost everyone was thinking about China. Relations between the countries have grown tense in recent years but have significantly worsened after Australia echoed the US in calling for an inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus, first detected in China late last year.
China has since imposed tariffs on Australian barley, stopped beef imports and warned Chinese citizens and students about risks of travelling to Australia for tourism or education because of racist incidents.
