Australia: State-backed Groups Hacking Critical Infrastructure

Facts

• According to its annual threat report released on Wednesday, the Australian Cyber Security Centre said that state-sponsored groups have increased cyber attacks on the nation's critical infrastructure, businesses, and homes.¹
• Reports of cybercrime surged 23% to over 94K in the financial year to June, the report claimed, adding the country's new defense deal with the UK and the US is likely to have turned it into more of a target.¹
• Identifying China as a major conspirator, the report said serious attacks on Australian institutions that led to the 'extensive compromise' of sensitive data had increased from two to five over the last year.²
• Furthermore, the government's leading cyber security agency alleges that a state-sponsored Chinese hacking group — reportedly spying on American critical infrastructure — might be attacking Australia's telecommunications, energy, and transportation hubs.³
• The report comes days after DP World Australia, the country's biggest ports operator, closed its Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Fremantle operations for two days after discovering suspicious activity on its systems.⁴
• Meanwhile, to reinforce its defense against cyber threats, Australia has been conducting simulated cyber attacks, including against Sydney Airport and critical systems within the country's telecom sector.⁵

Sources: ¹Reuters, ²VOA, ³CNA, ⁴The Guardian and ⁵Capital Brief.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by Cyber Daily. Chinese hackers have increasingly been targeting Australia to siphon military and strategic secrets, fueling fears that confidential information from the US and UK could also be compromised through Australia. Calls have grown for Australia to ramp up its capabilities, especially since it declared its intention to join the $368B AUKUS submarine deal by the 2050s — a move deeply opposed by China. Australia is very much at risk.
• Narrative B, as provided by Capital Brief. Australia's Department of Home Affairs has been working tirelessly to reduce cyber security threats, including improving the security of critical and emerging technology. Their new seven-year strategy will significantly expand the country's Cyber Security Exercise Program in 2024 to new sectors, including data storage and processing. The government is already addressing this rising threat.

Predictions