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Coming in at equal sixth in the world as targets of “significant” cyber attacks, Australia has reported 16 major incidents since 2010. The US tops the list with 156 incidents – three times more than the UK which recorded the second-most significant cyber attacks at 47. Created using using data from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) – which regularly updates a timeline of major cyber incidents – the list once again highlights Australia’s prevalence as a target for cyber warfare at a time of heightened awareness about cyber risks. The CSIS list of “significant” incidents focuses on times when bad actors have targeted government agencies, defense or high-tech companies, and incidents with an economic cost above US$1 million. Starting in 2010 with a hack attempt on Rio Tinto, the listed Australian incidents show a decade-long pattern of cyber espionage targeting mining companies, Defence contractors, and government agencies. Ten years ago, the Australian Si...

The Australian government has launched Covidsafe, an app that traces every person running the app who has been in contact with someone else using the app who has tested positive for coronavirus in the previous few weeks, in a bid to automate coronavirus contact tracing, and allow the easing of restrictions. The national cabinet said that the app could be a valuable tool “if the numbers increase and the application is widely taken up”. Health minister Greg Hunt said the government’s target for uptake of the app is 40% of the population. Morrison said automatic contact tracing would be a key component in states and territories easing some restrictions on “high-value, low-risk economic activities” after the next four weeks. He compared using the app to buying bonds during the war. “ In the war, people bought war bonds to get in behind the national effort. What we’re doing in fighting this fight is we’ll be asking people to download an app which helps us trace the virus quickly ...

According to Australian Government’s Cyber Security Review, cybercrime is costing the Australian economy around $1 billion annually in direct costs alone.  Some analysts say that data breaches could cost Australian businesses about $8 trillion over the next five years, largely because of higher levels of connectivity without a proportionate level of investment in security. The ATO or Australian Taxation Office works with the Attorney-General’s Department, the Department of Human Services, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC),  the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) as well as other government regulatory agencies & departments for combating the growing threat of identity theft as well as cybercrime. A few months back, the government implemented the NDBs or Notifiable Data Breach Scheme, administered by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. This scheme applies to all agencies & organizations respon...

VMware has further new features to its core networking software that will let clients more securely control cloud application traffic running on containers, virtual machines or bare metal. At its VMworld event, the company announced a new version of the company’s NSX networking software with backing for the cloud-based advanced load balancer technology it recently learned from Avi Networks. The load balancer is included in VMware vRealize Network Insight 5.0 and tied to NSX Intelligence software that lets customers improve network availability and performance in physical and virtual networks. The load balancer comprises a web application analytics and firewall features to support clients securely manage and control traffic. VMware introduce in July with the plan to punch up its data-centre network-virtualization capabilities by adding Avi’s load balancing, application, analytics and delivery technology to NSX. Avi’s incorporation with VMware NSX delivers an application-se...