Chinese hackers targeting remote workers in Australia

The technology of remote workers is being targeted by Chinese hackers to try and infiltrate corporate systems, Australia's cyber espionage agency has warned.

The findings are part of a rise in state-sponsored hacks targeting businesses and individuals amid global tensions, outlined in the Australian Signals Directorate's latest Cyber Threat Report.

Concerningly, hackers are turning to artificial intelligence in their cyberattacks on major companies, which include banks, telcos, power and water suppliers.

READ MORE: Qantas to face scrutiny after personal data of 5.7 million customers released, minister says

For small and medium companies, the average cost of cybercrime over the past financial year rose by 55 per cent to $97,000.

But for big firms, the average cost is up by 220 per cent, or about $203,000.

The ASD also warns hackers are hijacking employees' home technology and exploiting them without the owners' knowledge, through hidden networks known as a botnet.

"State-sponsored cyber actors have also compromised home devices connected to the internet, such as home routers, to create botnets that support further targeting around the globe."

Home internet routers, firewalls and VPNs were among the "edge devices" targeted by hackers linked with China, the ASD said.

Once network defences were overcome, the criminals were able to access other connected hardware, such as computers and phones.

"By successfully exploiting such technologies, malicious cyber actors can gain an initial foothold on a network for follow-on activity."

The ASD report was published today after the personal information of 5.7 million Qantas customers was released onto the dark web by hackers.

Qantas was one of 40 companies caught up in the hack, alongside the likes of Disney and IKEA, when the hacker group Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters stole almost 1 billion records of customer data from cloud technology company Salesforce in July.

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