This Month
Ransomware reporting rules aim to protect business
Labor is moving forward with major new cybersecurity laws that have limited-use provisions to stop regulators and law enforcement being informed of some payments.
- Tom McIlroy
September
Cyberspies phone businesses to warn of danger but half don’t respond
The Australian Signals Directorate’s new director-general Abigail Bradshaw says there is a stigma to being attacked, but it is costly for companies.
- Max Mason
July
- Exclusive
- Cyber security
Cyber is our fastest growing national security threat: O’Neil
The Home Affairs Minister says Labor’s plans to boost Australia’s defences against increasing online risks are already delivering results.
- Tom McIlroy
- Analysis
- Software
When tech fails, it is usually with a whimper instead of a bang
Forget artificial intelligence, disaster is as likely to creep in quietly – perhaps from a piece of technology so mundane that hardly anyone knows it exists.
- Updated
- David Streitfeld and Kate Conger
- Analysis
- Software
What caused the huge global IT outage?
Friday’s international meltdown is an example of how a minor technical change, made by a company unknown to most outside the IT industry, can wreak havoc.
- Camilla Hodgson, Stephanie Stacey, Cristina Criddle and Madhumita Murgia
Global IT chaos triggered by software glitch eases slightly
The impact of what’s being called the most spectacular IT failure the world has ever seen is expected to take at least several days to tally.
- Updated
- Tess Bennett, Paul Smith, Andrew Tillett and Tom Richardson
Nina lost $11,600 to a scam. Bendigo Bank won’t help her
When Nina Merrilees was scammed in 2022, she was shocked the banks didn’t help her. New research shows most Australians think they should have.
- Hannah Wootton
This ASIC boss was scammed. She has a warning for you
When Karen Chester bought shoes in a sale last month, she did not expect to be scammed. The fact she was shows the urgent need for reforms.
- Hannah Wootton
Why you shouldn’t set a deadline if you want to be more resilient
The strongest leaders believe in themselves and don’t try to set timelines for when a difficult period will pass, says Macquarie Technology Group CEO David Tudehope.
- Updated
- Ciara Seccombe and Lap Phan
June
May
Police contacted over threats to eSafety chief: court documents
Australia’s e-safety watchdog went to police after commissioner Julie Inman Grant received threats and online abuse after telling X Corp to take down a video of a brutal church stabbing.
- Miklos Bolza
Judge rebukes ‘clear case’ of government overreach on stabbing video
A Federal Court judge said a global ban would not be a “reasonable” step and would likely be ignored by other countries.
- Max Mason and Nick Bonyhady
April
‘Safe room for terrorists’: ASIO warns big tech on encryption
Federal spy and crime chiefs will demand access to social messaging systems that allow terrorists, violent extremists and child abusers to operate with impunity.
- Jacob Greber
February
Court permanently blocks use of HWL Ebsworth hack data
The law firm succeeded in making permanent a court order that prevents the use of stolen data, as the size of the hack means lost documents have not been itemised.
- Maxim Shanahan
November 2023
How Ukraine defeated Russia’s cyber warriors
Kyiv imported tens of thousands of modems after malware took down its satellite communications network. Western tech companies helped thwart other attacks too.
- Lawrence Freedman
November 2023
Removal of hacker threat a sign Allen & Overy may have paid ransom
Cybercrime group LockBit has taken down a listing threatening to release data stolen from the law firm, in a sign the parties may have begun ransom negotiations.
- Maxim Shanahan
Allen & Overy says extent of cyberattack is still unclear
The Australian arm of the global law firm says it will inform local clients of any impact to their data “as soon as we can”.
- Maxim Shanahan
Cybersecurity boost to stop small business exploitation
Small businesses will get access to voluntary cyber health checks and one-on-one assistance during cyberattacks under new funding to be announced by Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil on Monday.
- Ronald Mizen
Allen & Overy in difficult situation over hack, say rivals
Cybersecurity experts from Australian law firms say Allen & Overy’s Australian arm is “damned if they do and damned if they don’t” regarding a cyberattack update.
- Maxim Shanahan
These are the big lessons from the Optus outage
Don’t be slow to respond, explain yourself clearly, don’t try to fake concern and war-game a response when things are quiet.
- Patrick Durkin