Pine Gap’s new spy role revealed

"Central Australia's Pine Gap spy base has taken on a new electronic surveillance role, making it a "multi-purpose mega-intelligence centre," as Australia and our allies massively increase interception of global satellite communications, a new report by leading espionage experts has revealed. "



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ASIO boss reveals fewer Australians now joining ISIS after rapid increase last year | Daily Mail Online

 "Fewer Australians are joining Islamic State the head of the nation's top spy agency has revealed."



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Queen’s Speech: Snooper’s Charter is back, plus extension of GCHQ powers | Ars Technica UK

 "The Queen's Speech, delivered this morning at the opening of UK parliament, has confirmed earlier indications that the Snooper's Charter is on its way back, with the UK government promising that "new legislation will modernise the law on communications data.""



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China moves weapons on to artificial islands in South China Sea

"In Canberra, Fairfax understands that China's frenetic building activity has prompted the Defence Intelligence Organisation and Office of National Assessments to adopt a more hawkish tone since they each delivered major strategic threat assessments to the National Security Committee of Committee (NSC) mid-last year."



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Citizenship of Australian terrorists overseas under question - Wikinews, the free news source

"Yesterday, Australia's Prime Minister proposed his government might strip individuals of their Australian citizenship if authorities consider them involved in terrorist activity."



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Counter-terrorism coordinator shifts the power, but not staff

"The Abbott government’s changes to the counter-terrorism regime will see the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet assume a greater role in what has traditionally been the preserve of the Attorney-General’s Department."



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Monis felt targeted by ASIO, Schapelle Corby retaliation - Yahoo7

 "A psychiatrist and a mental health nurse who treated Sydney siege gunman Man Haron Monis are among witnesses who will testify at an inquest into the tragedy on Wednesday."



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Mass surveillance makes us subjects of the state. That's chilling | Richard Ackland | Comment is free | The Guardian

"In the 1980s there existed in Sydney something called the Free Speech Committee. It was mainly comprised of hairy lefties who believed free speech should be absolute – even broader than the first amendment."



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Sydney siege inquest: Man Haron Monis claimed he was being 'set up' by ASIO and 'picked on' by Customs - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

"A former solicitor of the Sydney Lindt cafe siege gunman says Man Haron Monis claimed he was being "set up" by ASIO and "picked on" by Australian Customs officials about his frequent trips abroad, an inquest has heard."



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Tony Abbott denies national security measures alienating parts of community | Australia news | The Guardian

Tony Abbott denies national security measures alienating parts of community | Australia news | The Guardian:

"No one should feel alienated by the Australian government’s national security crackdowns, Tony Abbott said, as he announced changes to counter-terrorism responsibilities and prepared to reveal tougher citizenship laws."



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Abbott names Moriarty new Counter-Terrorism Coordinator - Government News

Abbott names Moriarty new Counter-Terrorism Coordinator - Government News:

"Prime Minister Tony Abbott has moved to conspicuously beef-up the Australian government’s counter-terrorism response by creating a new high-profile ministry backed by a top-level bureaucrat, but resisted any wider push to rationalise departmental responsibilities or supporting machinery of government."



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Australia to announce new counter-terrorism measures - Mirage News

Australia to announce new counter-terrorism measures - Mirage News:

"Prime Minister Tony Abbott has indicated the government will soon announce further counter-terrorism laws and amendments amid “a growing challenge from foreign fighters and from home-grown terrorists”."



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The government tried to hack your phone

The government tried to hack your phone:

"A NEW leaked report has revealed that several government spy agencies across the world, including Australian agencies tried to hack into phones via the Google Play Store and Samsung’s app store."



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Apple and Google Just Attended a Confidential Spy Summit in a Remote English Mansion - The Intercept

Apple and Google Just Attended a Confidential Spy Summit in a Remote English Mansion - The Intercept:

"At an 18th-century mansion in England’s countryside last week, current and former spy chiefs from seven countries faced off with representatives from tech giants Apple and Google to discuss government surveillance in the aftermath of Edward Snowden’s leaks."



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Business - THE NEWS WRAP: Australian spies part of international spook alliance to hack smartphones

Business - THE NEWS WRAP: Australian spies part of international spook alliance to hack smartphones:

"Australia’s spy agencies, along with those of the United States, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom planned to hijack the Google and Samsung app stores to implant spyware on phones."



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Snowden: NSA And Allies Planned To Use Google And Samsung App Stores To Spy On Smartphones : PERSONAL TECH : Tech Times

Snowden: NSA And Allies Planned To Use Google And Samsung App Stores To Spy On Smartphones : PERSONAL TECH : Tech Times:

"The National Security Agency has been at it again. New documents leaked by Edward Snowden reveal that the NSA and its allies planned to infect smartphones with spyware via the Google Play and Samsung App stores."



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Data and Goliath: The Hidden Battles to Collect Your Data and Control Your World, by Bruce Schneier | Books | Times Higher Education

Data and Goliath: The Hidden Battles to Collect Your Data and Control Your World, by Bruce Schneier | Books | Times Higher Education:

"Paul Bernal clicks with a maverick thinker who shows how business and governments are building a global surveillance network and how we can fight back"



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Australian budget boosts spending on war and surveillance - World Socialist Web Site

Australian budget boosts spending on war and surveillance - World Socialist Web Site:



"One of the most revealing, and least reported, features of last week’s Australian federal budget was increased funding for the military and intelligence agencies, not just for this year but for every following year."



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Telstra-owned Pacnet hit by major data breach

Telstra-owned Pacnet hit by major data breach:

"Australia's leading cyber-spies have joined the hunt for hackers who broke into Telstra's Asian subsidiary Pacnet in an attack affecting thousands of customers including The Australian Federal Police, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and other government agencies."



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Cyber Resilience for Financial Services Entities | K&L Gates LLP - JDSupra

Cyber Resilience for Financial Services Entities | K&L Gates LLP - JDSupra:



"ASIC also recommends a number of Australian providers who deal with mitigating cyber risk including the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) publication 'Strategies to mitigate targeted cyber intrusions' and CERT Australia, who partner with major Australian businesses, particularly major financial institutions and market infrastructure providers in providing advice and support on cyber risks."



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