Australia’s top cyber spy agency has found itself in the perverse position of obtaining greater assistance from its US counterpart when trying to help local victims of cyberattacks, which have soared over the last year.

The unintended outcome is the result of what has been described as a “disturbing trend” in which efforts by the Australian Signals Directorate to help companies under duress from ransomware and other crimes end up hampered by company lawyers primarily concerned with future damages claims or regulatory action.