China behind massive cyber attack on Australian government
China has been identified as the perpetrator of a massive cyber attack on Australia’s political parties, government organisations, health and essential service providers in a warning shot over our calls for a widescale inquiry into COVID-19.
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Australian political parties, government organisations, health and essential service providers are currently the target of a “sophisticated” cyber attack by China.
According to Clive Hamilton, public ethics professor at Charles Sturt University and the author of Silent Invasion, the timing of the attack is “significant” and designed to send a clear message to Australia.
“It could well be that these cyber attacks are part of Beijing’s campaign to punish Australia for its insubordination in calling for an inquiry into COVID-19”, Hamilton told The Daily Telegraph.
“I think the message is that we should be worried,” says Hamilton.
“China is sending us a message that ‘We’re big, you are small, and we have the capacity to punish you’,’’ he said.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed Australia is under a large-scale attack.
“We know it is a sophisticated state-based cyber actor because of the scale and nature of the targeting and the trade craft used,” he said.
“The Australian Government is aware of and alert to the threat of cyber attacks.”
Mr Morrison said the Australian Cyber Security Centre and a range of private cyber security providers have been “working together to thwart this activity”.
Mr Morrison said the ACSC has already published a range of technical advisory notices in recent times to alert potential targets and has been briefing States and Territories on risks and mitigations.
“Regrettably, this activity is not new,” Mr Morrison said.
“Frequency has been increasing.
“The ACSC has also been actively working with targeted organisations to ensure that they have appropriate technical mitigations in place and their defences are appropriately raised.”
Mr Morrison said the “malicious” cyber attacks on Australia’s major government, industry and political organisations have been increasing in frequency in recent months, but he would not say which state-based actor was the perpetrator.
“The threshold for public attribution on a technical level is extremely high,” he said.
“Australia doesn’t engage lightly in public attributions and when and if we choose to do so is always done in the context of what we believe to be in our strategic national interests.
“What I can confirm is there are not a large number of state-based actors that can engage in this type of activity and it is clear, based on the advice that we have received, that this has been done by a state-based actor, with very significant capabilities.”
Mr Morrison said there were no large personal data breaches as a result of the ongoing attacks.
The Prime Minister said he has already discussed the issue with state and territory leaders, federal Labor and also international allies.
“We work closely with, particularly our allies and partners when it comes to managing issues of cyber security threats,” he said.
“That is a constant topic, as you would expect, particularly through Five Eyes partners.
“I spoke to Boris Johnson last night about a range of matters, including this one and there are a number of engagements with our allies overnight.”
Mr Morrison said the government was going public about the attack to ensure Australians’ “awareness levels” are raised.
“Today is about raising the awareness and those who are engaged in this are not doing this to help us,” he said.
“That’s certainly not their intention. You could describe it as malicious and that is why our awareness levels need to be raised.”
Mr Morrison said the current cyber attack was “not related” to recent intrusions against the private sector, including beverage company Lion.
“We are aware of criminal-based cyber activity that we’re aware of has been affecting other corporates at the moment,” he said.
“You will be aware there are other cases going on at the moment and they are not related to these events. They are other events.”