US link to Australian cyber attack claims: China
China has lashed out at accusations it is behind wide-ranging cyber attacks on Australia, claiming those pointing the finger are driven by questionable motives.
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China has denied responsibility for an industrial-scale cyber attack on Australian government and industry, describing the claims as “baseless”.
The Chinese government was accused of orchestrating the massive cyber-hit on Australia, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison warning the nation’s critical infrastructure was under attack.
Mr Morrison blamed a “sophisticated state-based cyber actor’’ for an attack “currently’’ under way, targeting Australian businesses, political organisations, education and health providers and all levels of government.
He refused to name the foreign government or agency responsible, but five separate government and security sources told News Corp Australia, China was behind the attack.
However, China Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian. slammed the accusations.
Zhao said the claims of hacking came from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute which he accused of being funded by US arms companies.
“We’ve pointed out many times, this institute has long been receiving funding from US arms companies, and the attacks coming from the institute are completely baseless”, he said.
“It has been hyping up, or creating, all kinds of anti-China topics.
“The attacks and the blame coming from this institute against China is totally baseless and nonsense.”
Zhao also said that China was “ the biggest victim of cyber attacks: and was “a staunch upholder of cyber security.”
APSI hit back, saying the Chinese were attempting to take attention away from their research into government activities.
UPGRADE YOUR SECURITY NOW: PM
The PM called on industry and individuals to upgrade their cybersecurity, download the latest software and seek expert advice to protect themselves.
“We know it’s a sophisticated state-based cyber actor because of the scale and nature of the targeting, and the tradecraft used,’’ Mr Morrison said.
“It is clear, based on the advice that we have received, that this has been done by a state-based actor with very, very significant capabilities …. there aren’t too many who have those capabilities.’’
Asked what he would say to people who would “naturally’’ think China was responsible, Mr Morrison said: “I can’t control what speculation others might engage in.’’
Energy Minister Angus Taylor said the attack was focused on “disrupting economic activity” and “getting access to information”.
The Chinese government rejected claims it was responsible, with a spokesman describing the allegations as “completely baseless”.
The PM said he had advised Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese on Thursday night about the cyber attack, and passed messages to premiers and chief ministers.
It does not appear a single new attack triggered yesterday’s public announcement. Rather, cyber hits have been occurring daily, increasing during the pandemic and spiking in recent days.
This prompted the PM’s statement, along with concerns the public wasn’t heeding warnings from the government’s Australian Cyber Security Centre.
“We raised this issue not to raise concerns in the public’s mind, but to raise awareness,’’ the PM said.
He added he had discussed the situation with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Britain is a fellow member of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, with the US, Canada and New Zealand.
The ACSC said the attacks, which were largely unsuccessful, had used “spearphishing techniques’’, including getting computer users to divert to websites which harvest personal details, and sending emails with links to other malicious sites and files.
Tom Uren, of the Australia Strategic Policy Institute’s international cyber policy centre, said Mr Morrison was “talking about the Chinese state and groups conducting espionage on its behalf’’.
Russia, Iran and North Korea had sophisticated capabilities, but “none of these countries have the same motivation’’ to attack Australia.
“You end up with a very, very short list of one,’’ he said.
The Australia-China relationship has been increasingly strained after Australia led calls for an inquiry into the origin of COVID-19.
Since then, China has slapped tariffs on our beef and barley imports. And it recently sentencing alleged Melbourne drug smuggler Karm Gilespie to death, seven years after he was arrested with 7.5kg of ice.
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