Video Conference with Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC, Minister for Defence

Malicious cyber-attacks against Australian businesses and government agencies from state-based actors, have increased over the past few months, as the nation’s cyber security centre receives reports every 10 minutes.

Defence Minister Senator Linda Reynolds warned that cyber crime is increasing in Australia. “At one end of the spectrum, there are opportunistic cyber criminals who target Australians and Australian companies for financial gain,” she said. “And at the other … there are sophisticated and very well resourced state-based actors who are seeking to interfere in our nation in this grey zone in any opportunistic way that they can.

Cyber criminals quickly adapted their phishing methods to take advantage of the coronavirus crisis.

The Minister outlined the Government’s latest developments in protecting Australians from cyber security threats and its efforts to bring cyber agencies “out of the shadows” in order to raise public awareness of cyber security and the role of intelligence agencies.