The pace of cyber attacks on Australian governments and businesses is rising amid growing international tensions.
Cyber experts have warned foreign state actors may have infiltrated critical Australian infrastructure such as water or power systems and are lying dormant to potentially wreak havoc in the event of a conflict.
A key gas pipeline in the United States was forced to shut down in May after hackers gained access to its operator’s network.The Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s cyber policy director, Fergus Hanson, said it was entirely possible for a foreign state to already be present on Australian networks, as did John Blackburn, a former deputy air force chief turned consultant.
Mr Hanson was giving evidence under questioning from James Paterson, a Liberal Senator and chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, which is examining a potential new law to toughen Australia’s defences against online incursions.who argue it would give the government too much power to interfere with their complex global systems, and may lead to weaker security if Australia’s digital agencies decide to install incompatible or unhelpful software.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Threat of foreign cyber attacks is ‘profoundly disturbing’Australia has been issued with a “sobering warning” of potential cyber attacks on critical infrastructure, with experts flagging the possibility of foreign actors lying dormant waiting to “flick the switch”.
Read more »
Intelligence and Security Committee ‘conducting inquiry’ into critical infrastructure bill
Read more »
Visa applications for Afghan translators are 'highest priority', government saysForeign Minister Marise Payne insists the government is prioritising visa applications for Afghans who worked with Australian forces during the decades-long conflict.
Read more »
Tech giants tell government they don’t want its software to stop cyber attacksTech giants say a new cyber security law to allow government agencies into their networks could cause more harm than the cyber attacks they’re designed to halt. | Nickbonyhady Auspol
Read more »
Dozens of workers killed in Bangladesh factory infernoA frantic search for survivors is underway just outside the capital city, where dozens of people have been killed inside a factory that was locked from the inside.
Read more »
V'landys' warning to misbehaving NRL players'Everything is on the table'. 👀 Peter V'landys says further biosecurity protocols by NRL players could leave the league in 'disarray'. 9WWOS NRL
Read more »