24 Nov, 2009 06:07 AM
Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland has confirmed that the Australian Government's computer systems have almost certainly been targeted by foreign intelligence services.Mr McClelland said yesterday foreign governments had been implicated in attempts to breach the information security of Australian Government departments and agencies.
''It's suspected in some incidents nation states [are responsible],'' he said yesterday at the launching of the Australian Government's first cyber-security strategy.
''A lot of it is from organised crime, but we can't be naive: some of it is, we suspect, from nation states.''
Mr McClelland said there was evidence of ''significant breaches'' of information security.
''Clearly there's evidence of critical infrastructure also being targeted.''
Mr McClelland did not identify which country or countries were responsible for cyber-espionage against Australia, but his remarks came shortly after a United States congressional committee identified China as the principal source of cyber-attacks on US Defence Department computer systems.
Citing data provided by the US Strategic Command, the Congressional United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission reported last week a 60 per cent surge in malicious cyber incidents targeting US defence systems.
It said 43,785 attacks had occurred in the first half of this year.
The commission concluded in its latest annual report that a ''large body of both circumstantial and forensic evidence strongly indicates Chinese state involvement in such activities''.
''The quantity of malicious computer activities against the United States increased in 2008 and is rising sharply in 2009. Much of this activity appears to originate in China.''
The Australian Government's new cyber-security strategy is intended to cover both the high-level threats of cyber-warfare and espionage, and the danger to individual internet users who can be victims of criminal activities without ever being aware they have been robbed, had personal data stolen, or had their home computer hijacked.
Mr McClelland highlighted the links between personal computer security and national security.
''Compromised home computers can readily be organised into 'botnets' that may be used to launch attacks against government or other critical systems,'' the cyber-security strategy warns.
Mr McClelland announced the creation of an Australian Government Computer Emergency Response Team, CERT Australia, to begin operation in January.
''Our Cyber Security Strategy details Australian Government arrangements to defend economic institutions, critical infrastructure, government agencies, businesses and home users from cyber threats,'' Mr McClelland said.
''CERT Australia will work with other national CERTs around the world, the IT industry and Australian internet service providers to help network operators to identify and respond to cyber-security incidents.''
The team will also work closely with the Cyber Security Operations Centre recently established in the Defence Department's top secret Defence Signals Directorate.
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Stephen Conroy, welcomed the new security strategy.
''Ensuring consumers and businesses have confidence in online systems will be essential for Australia to reap the full benefits of the digital economy. This strategy will help to make sure that people understand the simple things they can do to stay smart online,'' he said.
''It's suspected in some incidents nation states [are responsible],'' he said yesterday at the launching of the Australian Government's first cyber-security strategy.
''A lot of it is from organised crime, but we can't be naive: some of it is, we suspect, from nation states.''
Mr McClelland said there was evidence of ''significant breaches'' of information security.
''Clearly there's evidence of critical infrastructure also being targeted.''
Mr McClelland did not identify which country or countries were responsible for cyber-espionage against Australia, but his remarks came shortly after a United States congressional committee identified China as the principal source of cyber-attacks on US Defence Department computer systems.
Citing data provided by the US Strategic Command, the Congressional United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission reported last week a 60 per cent surge in malicious cyber incidents targeting US defence systems.
It said 43,785 attacks had occurred in the first half of this year.
The commission concluded in its latest annual report that a ''large body of both circumstantial and forensic evidence strongly indicates Chinese state involvement in such activities''.
''The quantity of malicious computer activities against the United States increased in 2008 and is rising sharply in 2009. Much of this activity appears to originate in China.''
The Australian Government's new cyber-security strategy is intended to cover both the high-level threats of cyber-warfare and espionage, and the danger to individual internet users who can be victims of criminal activities without ever being aware they have been robbed, had personal data stolen, or had their home computer hijacked.
Mr McClelland highlighted the links between personal computer security and national security.
''Compromised home computers can readily be organised into 'botnets' that may be used to launch attacks against government or other critical systems,'' the cyber-security strategy warns.
Mr McClelland announced the creation of an Australian Government Computer Emergency Response Team, CERT Australia, to begin operation in January.
''Our Cyber Security Strategy details Australian Government arrangements to defend economic institutions, critical infrastructure, government agencies, businesses and home users from cyber threats,'' Mr McClelland said.
''CERT Australia will work with other national CERTs around the world, the IT industry and Australian internet service providers to help network operators to identify and respond to cyber-security incidents.''
The team will also work closely with the Cyber Security Operations Centre recently established in the Defence Department's top secret Defence Signals Directorate.
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Stephen Conroy, welcomed the new security strategy.
''Ensuring consumers and businesses have confidence in online systems will be essential for Australia to reap the full benefits of the digital economy. This strategy will help to make sure that people understand the simple things they can do to stay smart online,'' he said.
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