Govt wants to target Aussie jihadists

"The coalition wants to give the Australian Secret Intelligence Service power to inform the Australian Defence Force about the whereabouts of Australian foreign fighters."



'via Blog this'

AFP contradicts itself on what constitutes metadata

The Australian Federal Police considered citizens' web histories as fair game to access without a warrant, despite assurances by its chief to the contrary."



'via Blog this'

A burqa ban would have negative security implications

"ASIO has found there is no valid security reason to ban the burqa."



'via Blog this'

'Dialogue' or Tamil self-determination

"Even in Australia, lower-caste/class Tamils would be hesitant about speaking out, because of possible repercussions on their relatives at home, as well as fear of harassment by government agencies such as the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (and in the case of those who are not Australian citizens, fear of deportation)."



'via Blog this'

AWS scores same Oz gov sec creds as Azure

"IRAP is run by Australia's sigint agency, the Defence Signals Directorate (DSD), and is pretty much the same as the USA's Fedramp cert. Those who score an IRAP tick are allowed to store non-classified government data."



'via Blog this'

Australia and East Timor restart talks

"The maritime boundary has been a constant source of conflict between Australia and East Timor, amid revelations of Australian spying on its northern neighbour and claims the future of the fledgling state has been jeopardised by Australia's stance."



'via Blog this'

Microsoft launches Azure cloud platform data centres in Australia

 "The launch comes after Azure cloud platform became the first public cloud service in Australia to pass an Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) Industry Security Registered Assessors Program (IRAP) compliance assessment."



'via Blog this'

Jihadist passport removal to stay

"WOULD-BE jihadists will continue to have their passports cancelled after federal cabinet’s National Security Committee re-evaluated the risk of “lone wolf” attacks by alienated and frustrated young men trapped in Australia."



'via Blog this'

Indonesia's new president Joko Widodo announces cabinet

" Mr Sofyan, as a minister in Dr Yudhoyono's cabinet, was one of those whose phones were tapped by Australian spies in 2007, leading to a six-month cooling of relations between the two countries"



'via Blog this'

Time for a thorough review of spy agency oversight

"Since 11 September 2001, new threats to Australia's national security have emerged, with Australians targeted by terrorist organisations at home and abroad."



'via Blog this'

Sir Keith Murdoch ‘may have faced jail’

"LACHLAN Murdoch has sounded a warning about the government’s counter-terrorism laws, arguing that under the new regime his grandfather Keith Murdoch may have faced 10 years’ imprisonment for his historic dispatches from Gallipoli."



'via Blog this'

How America and Britain Crushed our Government

"The day after his election, he ordered that his staff should not be “vetted or harassed” by the Australian security organization, ASIO — then, as now, tied to Anglo-American intelligence."



'via Blog this'

Australian passport cancellations double

"The annual report from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (Asio) has revealed that 45 Australian passports were either refused or cancelled on security grounds in the 2013/14 financial year."



'via Blog this'

Biometrics Security Proposal Raises Eyebrows

"More famously (or infamously, depending on who you ask), Edward Snowden hacked the Australian Signals Directorate, the state’s major security agency, and leaked information about Australian espionage in Indonesia."



'via Blog this'

Tenable Incorporates Top Four ASD Strategies

"Tenable Network Security, Inc., the leader in continuous network monitoring, today released the latest version of its SecurityCenter Continuous View™ (SC CV) dashboard. Incorporating the top four strategies identified in the 2014 update of the Australian Signals Directorate’s (ASD) security publication, “Strategies to Mitigate Targeted Cyber Intrusions,” the new SecurityCenter CV dashboard adheres to government-mandated security requirements to bring greater visibility to security processes and enables organisations to address weaknesses or gaps in their security program and identify all of their vulnerabilities, eliminating blind spots in their network."



'via Blog this'

SAS soldier alleged to have pulled a gun on an ASIS

 "AM has been told that a special forces solider pulled a handgun on an Australian spy during a drinking session in Afghanistan in December last year.
"



'via Blog this'

Annual Report of Australian Intelligence Services Inspector General

"The 100-page unclassified annual report of the Australian Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) is now available online."



'via Blog this'

Australian Government, private sector face increased risk

"Australia faces an increased risk from foreign governments trying to steal electronic information, the nation's domestic spy agency has revealed."



'via Blog this'

AirWatch Named Champion in 2014

"Earlier this year, AirWatch announced Secure Content Locker complies with Australian Signals Directorate's requirements to provide PROTECTED level security status. "



'via Blog this'

New powers challenge security watchdog

 "The In spector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS), Vivienne Thom (pictured) says that the main and continuing challenge to the Office was adapting to changes in the operations and powers of the intelligence Agencies, while maintaining effectiveness, credibility and transparency in its oversight role."



'via Blog this'

Uninvited PM welcomes fresh start

"Traditionally Jakarta issues no invitation to world leaders for the swearing in of a new president, but 10 years ago Mr Howard judged that testing Javanese hospitality was worth it if he could make the point that Australia will stop at nothing to be Jakarta’s friend."



'via Blog this'

Australian intelligence officers fired guns

"Officers of Australia’s offshore intelligence agency, the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, have fired guns while affected by alcohol, the annual report of the intelligence oversight body, the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, reveals. A ”serious” incident involving alcohol and a firearm with an ASIS officer and another government official occurred late last year, which the agency misled IGIS about."



'via Blog this'

Tony Abbott to meet new Indonesian president

"On Monday, Mr Abbott is also likely to meet retiring President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,
whose goodwill has been the strongest positive on the Indonesian side of the relationship,
but whose patience was sorely tested by Mr Abbott’s insensitive handling of the exposure of
Australian Signals Directorate spying on Indonesian notables, including him and his wife."



'via Blog this'

EPL product details: DSD Defence Signals Directorate

"The GemXpresso Pro 64 PK is Gemplus' Java Card Platform on a Smart Card Integrated Circuit (IC) to manage and execute Java Applications."



'via Blog this'

EPL product details: DSD Defence Signals Directorate

 "BAE’s Interactive Link Data Diodes (IL-DD) provide a mechanism to ensure that high-speed optical communication signals will be permitted to pass in one direction only. "



'via Blog this'

Foreign interests trying to exploit my fragile nation

"It emerged last year that Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS)  agents bugged East Timor's government offices to gain an advantage in treaty negotiations over the lucrative reserves that lie between the two countries."



'via Blog this'

Don't trust the authorities on metadata: Greens

"Western Australia senator Scott Ludlam has labelled Attorney-General George Brandis "weak" and told Australians not to trust the government and law enforcement agencies when it comes to trawling through their metadata."



'via Blog this'

Vulnerable utilities, telcos, top of new Aussie natsec centre's to-do list

"The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) will increase its headcount from 90 to 150 as soon as possible, then grow to full capacity of 300 seats by year's end."



'via Blog this'

Intelligence agency complaints increased by a third

"The number of complaints concerning Australia's intelligence agencies increased by 34 per cent during the 2013-14 financial year with the majority of objections focused on ASIO assessments of visa applications."



'via Blog this'

The spectre of terrorism

"The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, as a predominantly defensive and advisory security agency, currently enjoys wide community support because it operates with probity within an explicit legal and ethical framework and is subject to extensive statutory and parliamentary oversight. "



'via Blog this'

ASIO accidently bugged itself says expanding spy watchdog

"They’re the super top secret eyes who check-up on our spies and very soon there will a few be more of them."



'via Blog this'

ASD staff move into Australia’s new security hub

 "Information security professionals from Australia’s defence, law enforcement and intelligence services have finally started moving into the $630m ‘Ben Chifley’ building constructed for the Australian Security and Intelligence Operation (ASIO) to form the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC)."



'via Blog this'

Reports expose Australian government’s data retention plans

"Revelations over the past week highlight the extent of the electronic surveillance already being conducted by the Australian spy agencies against the entire population, and the far-reaching scope of the “metadata retention” bill about to be unveiled by the Abbott government."



'via Blog this'

Muslim groups, lawyers and academics call for Foreign Fighters Bill to be put on ice

"Muslim groups, lawyers, Amnesty International and Civil Liberties Australia have united to urge the federal government to delay passing its latest anti-terror law."



'via Blog this'

A six-pack of cyber security awareness - Australian Security Magazine | Australian Security News | Security Products |Asia Pacific Security News : Australian Security Magazine | Australian Security News | Security Products |Asia Pacific Security News

 "Connie McIntosh, the woman who took out the Miss World Fitness and Miss Fitness Australia Championships 2000 and 2001 is more than just a model and fitness fanatic, she is also the Senior Adviser at CERT Australia – the national computer emergency response team."



'via Blog this'

Australia and terrorism: Pushing the limits | The Economist

"SHORTLY before he became prime minister last year, Tony Abbott praised the “freedom that our civilisation has nurtured”. Last month Mr Abbott’s mood in parliament was more sober. “Regrettably,” he said, “the delicate balance between freedom and security may have to shift.”"



'via Blog this'

TV TOTAL | Security tightened at Australian Institute of Sport after advice from Australian Security Intelligence Organisation

 "The Australian Institute of Sport has tightened security arrangements on advice from ASIO after the agency raised the nation’s terror threat from medium to high."



'via Blog this'

Opposition grows to storage of photo and biometric data

"Photographs of millions of Australians will be stored by the Immigration Department, and this "biometric data" gathering could extend to fingerprinting and iris scanning under the Abbott government's controversial counterterrorism laws."



'via Blog this'

Australia's spy catchers - ABC Queensland - Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)

"We don't seem to have any iconic Australian spies but we do have spy catchers."



'via Blog this'

China ramps up spying on Australian business

"Mandiant, a cyber security firm famous for identifying a Chinese military group called “APT1” that spied on hundreds of global targets, claims it has “definitive new evidence” that high-end Chinese hackers have been stealing secrets from Australian companies this year."



'via Blog this'

“Terrorist” sword seized in Australian police raids is plastic - World Socialist Web Site

"The Fairfax press revealed last week that the inscribed Arabic sword seized during unprecedented police raids on September 18—and portrayed by the media as the weapon that would be used in an Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)-inspired plot to kidnap a random person and behead them in the street—was actually a plastic ornament. "



'via Blog this'

Australian security laws ‘a threat to future of journalism’, says press body | Australia news | theguardian.com

The world’s leading newspaper body, representing more than 18,000 publications in 120 countries, has singled out Australia’s national security laws as a “threat to the future of journalism” and called on Tony Abbott to protect press freedom more effectively."



'via Blog this'

Snowden calls on web users to drop Dropbox and face off with Facebook- The Inquirer

"EDWARD SNOWDEN has repeated his warning that Dropbox is an "affront to privacy"."



'via Blog this'

Australia’s defence intelligence agency conducted secret programs to help NSA | Australia news | theguardian.com

"Australia’s defence intelligence agency has conducted secretive programs to help the US National Security Agency hack and exploit computer networks, according to documents published by the Intercept."



'via Blog this'

Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security launches recruitment drive to monitor ASIO

 "The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security has launched a recruitment drive to strengthen her office's ability to oversee a raft of new powers granted to the Australian intelligence community earlier this month. "



'via Blog this'

American website Intercept reveals secret activities of Australian spy agency

 "An American website has revealed some of the most secret activities of Australia's electronic spy agency as well as counter-espionage information that Australia's closest allies withheld from Canberra."



'via Blog this'

BAE Systems’ Laser-Guided Rocket Successfully Demonstrates Precision Strike Capability for Australian Defence Forces | Business Wire

"During the ground-based live fire event in August, held at the Woomera Prohibited Area test range in South Australia, the APKWS laser-guided technology was on target with all seven shots fired while integrated with the FZ90 rocket motor and warhead. "



'via Blog this'

Australian PM foreshadows ban on Islamist group - World Socialist Web Site

"Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has revealed the deeply anti-democratic character of his government’s “terrorist” legislation. "



'via Blog this'

Foreign fighters Bill gives ASIO more metadata, computer access | ZDNet

" Australian Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Vivienne Thom has warned that the definition of 'security' in new legislation is so broad that allowing ASIO powers to access metadata and computers for security reasons can cover more than ever."



'via Blog this'

Federal police lobbying to relax rules to obtain control orders | Australia news | theguardian.com

"The Australian federal police are lobbying for a relaxation of “time-consuming” rules they must follow to obtain interim control orders against terrorism suspects."



'via Blog this'

Defence spending is set to soar but there’s huge waste to be slashed | The Australian

"The few hundred million dollars budgeted to pay for our six fighter jets and associated personnel to contribute to a global coalition for six months is trifling compared to the wave of defence spending on the horizon. "



'via Blog this'

The Australian internet is now under surveillance » Techly

"Welcome, reader, and welcome, anonymous Australian Security Intelligence Organisation oversight employee whose name and position we will never know, and could face criminal prosecution for mentioning even if we did. "



'via Blog this'

Terror Hysteria - Draconian New Australian Anti-Terrorism Laws Target Journalists, Muslims And Human Rights By Dr Gideon Polya

"Supported by US-inspired “terror hysteria” the extreme right wing Australian Coalition Government with the support of the right wing Labor Opposition has war criminally re-invaded Iraq and passed draconian anti-terrorism legislation that makes Australia a secret police state  with  detention without charge or trial and Australian Intelligence  officers (e.g. of the Australian Security and Intelligence Organization, ASIO) having criminal and civil immunity from prosecution, and reportage on any special intelligence operations criminalized with maximum punishments ranging from 5 years' to 10 years' imprisonment.  "



'via Blog this'

Australia's new secret police - Eureka Street

"When Greg James QC recently launched Frank Walker’s book Maralinga on British nuclear tests in Australia, the former NSW Supreme Court judge said the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation was involved in an associated program to collect the bones of dead children without the parents’ permission."



'via Blog this'

Dita de Boni: Tackling terror no excuse for police state - Politics - NZ Herald News

"It's already well advanced across the ditch. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) has just been granted new powers to detain people without charge for up to seven days during which they are to have no contact with the outside world, and during which, if they refuse to answer questions, they will be imprisoned indefinitely."



'via Blog this'

Pen-testers outline golden rules to make hacks more €xpen$ive • The Register

 "A passing glance at the Australian Signals Directorate's lauded top four defence strategies, for example, reveals whitelisting as the first priority of security teams."



'via Blog this'

Assange makes surveillance inquiry submission

"Julian Assange has entered Australia's surveillance debate dismissing as "absurd" and "meaningless" government assurances that telecommunications interception is limited and subject to strict oversight.  "



'via Blog this'

SmartCompany - Federal government releases “cloud-first” policy in a bid to cut ICT costs in a move welcomed by Microsoft

"Microsoft is set to be major beneficiary of the policy, announced just days after Azure became the first public cloud service in Australia to pass an Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) Industry Security Registered Assessors Program (IRAP) assessment."



'via Blog this'

Assange accuses Australian govt of ‘misrepresenting nature of interception’ — RT News

"WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has challenged assurances by the Australian government that communications interception in the country was a matter of “strict oversight.”"



'via Blog this'

Limits on media are a blow to the people’s right to know | The Australian

"It would be difficult for a commentator to be more pro-national security than I am. My admiration for the work of ASIO, the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, the federal police and our other national security agencies is sincere and great. And the need for governments to keep some secrets is evident to everyone but a fool."



'via Blog this'

Letters tell of Sir Robert Menzies' Cadillac, friendship with driver Alf Stafford

"Menzies is newsworthy because John Howard's riveting book The Menzies Era is just published and because David Horner's just-published history of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) discusses Menzies' relationship with that shadowy organisation."



'via Blog this'

PM - Revelations from David Horner's official history of ASIO 07/10/2014

A new history of Australia's internal security organisation ASIO (Australian Security Intelligence Organisation) has revealed that the organisation's head in the 1950s, Charles Spry, fed political advice to the prime minister Robert Menzies during the 1951 referendum on whether to ban the Communist Party."



'via Blog this'

Ludlam urges telcos to take a stand on data retention | The Australian

 "Greens senator and party communication spokesperson Scott Ludlam has urged the telecommunications industry to ensure that the Coalition government’s proposed mandatory data retention regime doesn’t get off the ground."



'via Blog this'

The CIA, the MSM and the politics of drugs, guns, money and the news - On Line Opinion - 7/10/2014

"And a big part of the reason why we don't know is because the CIA – with the collusion of its mates in the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) – didn't want us to know."



'via Blog this'

ASIO monitored Labor MP who was KGB informant

"ASIO was on the trail of a federal Labor MP recently exposed as a KGB informant, a new official history reveals. "



'via Blog this'

Striking a balance: the moral quandaries of air warfare | The Australian

 "MAURIE McNarn knows better than most the logistical challenges and moral quandaries of the Australian military leadership tasked with helping to degrade then defeat Islamic State terrorists."



'via Blog this'

Detention extension? Australian spy agency’s power to hold without charge reviewed — RT News

"Australia’s passing of draconian anti-terror laws late September, the country took another step in the direction. This may allow its security services to detain anyone without charge even before other methods of questioning have been exhausted."



'via Blog this'

Rex Stevenson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Rex Kenneth Stevenson AO (born 16 October 1942) is an Australian company director and former intelligence officer, who was the Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service from 1992 to 1998."



'via Blog this'

Azure Australia certified good enough for government work • The Register

 "IRAP is run by the Defence Signals Directorate (DSD), an signals intelligence agency that also has a substantial role in setting Australian government security standards. Foresight's assessors are registered by the DSD."



'via Blog this'

Government's counter-terrorism laws a step too far with little scrutiny

"This week saw the passage of legislation that will give the Australian Security intelligence Organisation new powers to conduct "special intelligence operations", where agents will be permitted to break the law and journalists, whistleblowers and others will be penalised with up to 10 years in prison if they reveal any aspect of them."



'via Blog this'

Security proposals 'significantly lower' legal standards, says human rights chief | Australia news | theguardian.com

 "Australia’s domestic intelligence agency would have almost “total control” over the cancellation of passports for people who are considered a security risk under proposed laws which the Australian Human Rights Commission has warned may have severe consequences."



'via Blog this'

Let slip the doges of war: Australian Senator calls for meme protest of data retention laws - CNET

"After new national security surveillance powers were ushered through Australian parliament this week, one Senator has called on the Internet to protest further national security reforms through mass meme power."



'via Blog this'

John Howard reflects on the Menzies era. | dailytelegraph.com.au

"Menzies’ reign as prime minister also witnessed Australia join the Korean War in 1950, as well as the introduction of compulsory national service and the formation of the Australian Security­ Intelligence Organisation."



'via Blog this'

Low levels of diversity an issue for security agencies such as ASIO | The Australian

"SECURITY agencies including ASIO have been unable to recruit significant numbers of staff from ethnic backgrounds, despite claiming to be organisations that value diversity."



'via Blog this'

Julie Bishop vows to fight possible cuts to the foreign aid budget - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

"The proposed super-department would have encroached on her own portfolio by incorporating the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS)."



'via Blog this'

Julie Bishop pushes back on reported cuts to foreign aid to fund Iraq action | Australia news | theguardian.com

"Julie Bishop has pushed back strongly against reported plans to make further cuts to Australia’s foreign aid budget to help fund the military involvement in Iraq."



'via Blog this'

Agencies urged to avoid BASHing

"Australia's Computer Emergency Response Team, CERT Australia, has issued an advisory regarding the critical vulnerability in the BASH software."



'via Blog this'

Wikileaks accuses intelligence watchdog of misleading Senate inquiry - Computerworld

"Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has accused an Australian government agency of giving misleading evidence to a parliamentary inquiry."



'via Blog this'

Australia to Fly Support Missions in Iraq - WSJ

"Separately, the government said it would give the domestic spy agency, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, an additional 196.8 million Australian dollars ($170.6 million) over four years to combat terrorism—part of A$630 million in funding that has been set aside for counterterrorism efforts."



'via Blog this'

Expanded spying powers pass parliament as lone Labor MP voices concerns | Australia news | theguardian.com

"The Labor MP Melissa Parke emerged as a sole voice of dissent among the major parties as the Australian parliament approved a vast expansion of the powers of spy agencies, and criminalised reporting on special intelligence operations."



'via Blog this'

PUP disunity dogs terror Bill - The West Australian

"Despite Mr Palmer professing a commitment to free speech, Senator Lazarus last week successfully amended new anti-terror laws to include 10-year jail terms for identifying an ASIO or ASIS officer."



'via Blog this'

How LNP, Labor and Big Media gave ASIO more power to spy on you – Wendy Bacon

"Last week, Australian LNP and Labor Senators passed the most significant National Security Bill for nearly a decade, laughing as they did it."



'via Blog this'

Khaled Sharrouf-linked business to be permanently shut

"A Lakemba money transfer business owned by the sister and brother-in-law of Sydney terrorist Khaled Sharrouf will be permanently shut down after it failed to convince authorities that millions of dollars sent to the Middle East were not being used to fund terrorism."



'via Blog this'

Fear of ascendancy of Scott Morrison leads to scuttling of homeland security super-ministry

 "A move within the Abbott cabinet to establish a homeland security super-ministry drawing together several major departments and functions looks to have been scuttled because senior figures viewed it as an attempt by backers of Immigration Minister Scott Morrison to elevate him to future leader status."



'via Blog this'

Media reporting of ASIO killings illegal under new national security laws, says law expert

"New laws set to be passed by Canberra this week will make it a crime for the media to disclose the death of an innocent bystander caught up in a bungled covert spy agency operation, the government's dumped independent national security legislation monitor has warned."



'via Blog this'