Russia gave WikiLeaks’ hacked emails to boost Trump: ex-spy boss

A former spy master believes Russia acquired all of the emails from the Democratic National Convention.

‘It’s a very significant attempt to denigrate, A, a candidate, and, B, an entire political system’: David Irvine. Picture: Kym Smith

Former spy master David Irvine believes Russia acquired all of the emails from the Democratic ­National Convention and selectively gave them to WikiLeaks, ­suggesting this may have boosted Donald Trump’s campaign.

Speaking at the Association of Corporate Counsel National Conference in Canberra, the former ASIO chief outlined the risks to governments and businesses in the “cyber century” as well as strategies to mitigate the “potentially catastrophic” threats posed by the advancement of new digital technologies.

Mr Irvine warned of the perils of “digital blowback”, including the covert acquisition of defence, foreign policy, economic or commercial information as well as cyber sabotage — the disruption or ­disabling of key infrastructure.

He said the commitment of ­nationally sensitive information to digital databases meant there were greater responsibilities on government and businesses to protect their data, given its vulnerability to “malicious exploitation”.

Mr Irvine identified Russia as the key world power engaged in state-based sabotage, linking it to “covert cyber influencing” or the attempt to influence political thinking in other countries.

“If you want a very recent ­example, think of the alleged — I’m pretty sure it’s true — Russian acquisition of all the emails of the Democrat National Convention and selectively leaking them to WikiLeaks,” he said. “Did that decide if Trump won? Who knows? But it’s a very significant attempt to denigrate, A, a candidate, and, B, an entire political system.”

Mr Irvine said non-state actors were also capable of engaging in cyber warfare, noting they had more diverse targets including governments, businesses and­ ­individuals.

He warned that ­terrorists would soon broaden their use of digital technologies from ­recruitment to embrace cyber ­sabotage.

“My message to you is, watch this space,” he said.

The cost to high-tech countries of the theft of intellectual property was valued by Mr ­Irvine at somewhere between $370 billion a year and $575bn.