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Cyber protection

This Month

Malcolm Turnbull and Semperis’ Mickey Bresman see an opportunity in reducing companies’ need to pay ransoms to cyber attackers.

Malcolm Turnbull goes from PM to investment cyberhawk

The former OzEmail chairman is working with a company trying to reduce the need for businesses to pay cyber-ransoms, the latest in his growing tech portfolio.

  • Paul Smith

November

Due to the increasing rates and complexity of attacks, it’s almost inevitable that Australian businesses will face a data breach or ransomware attack at some point.

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

Australian Signals Directorate director-general Abigail Bradshaw.

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

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil is leading the government’s cybersecurity efforts in cabinet.

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

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
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Long queues of passengers at the check-in counters at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, amid the global IT disruption caused by the  Microsoft outage.

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
A Delta Airlines kiosk displays a message that reads “It looks like Windows didn’t load correctly”.

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 Merrilees lost $11,600 to a scammer claiming to be her and Mick Merrilees’ daughter.

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
You wouldn’t expect a former ASIC executive to be scammed, but Karen Chester’s experience shows how vulnerable everyone is.

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

Penten was founded in 2014 and specialises in cyber security technology for defence industry players and the government.

AFR Cyber Summit 2024

Insights and strategies businesses need to safeguard their operations.

May

Julie Inman Grant

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
Elon Musk scored a win over Anthony Albanese in the local Federal Court.

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

Managing partner Juan Martinez has succeeded in his attempts to cauterise the impact of the hack.

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
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November 2023

Russian cyberattacks are expected to ramp up as the war in Ukraine continues.

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

Pro-Palestinian hackers have displayed messages to Israelis on a digital billboard and a school Zoom call.

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
Local managing partner Jason Denisenko.

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
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil.

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
Brenton Steenkamp, Clayton Utz’s lead cyber security partner.

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

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/cyber-protection-i00