Australia targeted thousands of times in cyber attacks by overseas agencies

Dozens of Australian universities and critical infrastructure, including hospitals, have been targeted by overseas agencies and nation states.

Updating the threat to the nation while opening a Cyber Security Centre, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, said domestic agencies had responded to 14,000 incidents, more than 16 a day, since 2016.

“Criminal networks and malicious foreign actors are using increasingly sophisticated technology to steal our intellectual property and interfere with our institutions,” Mr Turnbull said.

“Billions of cyber events orchestrated by criminal, and indeed, nation state actors, are aiming at the very heart of the Australian government, business, and our public life.

“It is a global threat.

“Thirty-three universities have been targeted by an Iran-based spear fishing campaign as part of a sophisticated attempt to steal intellectual property and academic research.”

Mr Turnbull said “cyber criminals” continue to focus on the bank balances and personal data of “some of the most vulnerable members of our community”.

The attacks were costing business $7 billion a year.

Just two days ago, at 3am, government agencies were notified, responded, and shut down, a threat to Intel computer chips.