Australia Cyber Attack

Australia faces a "persistent threat" from state-backed hackers, the country's signals intelligence agency said Wednesday, highlighting the particular danger of Russian and Chinese cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.

Australia will introduce laws to parliament to increase penalties for companies subject to major data breaches.

Australia's prime minister revealed Friday his country was under a broad cyberattack from a "state-based actor" targeting government, public services and businesses, with suspicions falling on China.

Australian intelligence determined China was responsible for a cyber-attack on its national parliament and three largest political parties before the general election in May, five people with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Britain and Australia on Thursday accused Russian military intelligence of conducting a campaign of cyber attacks targeting political institutions, businesses, media and sport bodies around the world.

A malware attack against Australia's Bureau of Meteorology which might have spread into other government networks originated from a foreign intelligence service, an official report by the country's cyber defence agency said on Wednesday.

The Bureau of Statistics tweeted that the website was available again almost 43 hours after it was shut down.

"It was an attack, and we believe from overseas," said David Kalisch from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

An Australian intelligence agency is warning that cyber-criminals will target the upcoming G20 summit in Brisbane, saying they could include state-sanctioned hackers, trade spies or activists.

Tor, the prominent system for protecting Internet privacy, said on Wednesday many of its users trying to reach hidden sites might have been identified by government-funded researchers.

Multiple users on Apple Inc's online support forum and Twitter have reported an unusual smartphone and tablet hack in which cyber attackers were said to have locked Australian users' smartphones and demanded payment in return for unlocking them.

Foreign Minister Bob Carr said the report would not damage Canberra's ties with its biggest trade partner China.

The man is a self-proclaimed leader of the group Lulz Security (Lulzsec), a computer hacking group that has existed since 2011.

The new Australian laws to protect communication networks from cyber attacks could exclude companies simply because they're Chinese.

Chinese telecoms giant Huawei hit back at claims it was a security risk following its barring from Australia's broadband rollout.

Australia faces a "persistent threat" from state-backed hackers, the country's signals intelligence agency said Wednesday, highlighting the particular danger of Russian and Chinese cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.

Australia will introduce laws to parliament to increase penalties for companies subject to major data breaches.

Australia's prime minister revealed Friday his country was under a broad cyberattack from a "state-based actor" targeting government, public services and businesses, with suspicions falling on China.

Australian intelligence determined China was responsible for a cyber-attack on its national parliament and three largest political parties before the general election in May, five people with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Britain and Australia on Thursday accused Russian military intelligence of conducting a campaign of cyber attacks targeting political institutions, businesses, media and sport bodies around the world.

A malware attack against Australia's Bureau of Meteorology which might have spread into other government networks originated from a foreign intelligence service, an official report by the country's cyber defence agency said on Wednesday.

The Bureau of Statistics tweeted that the website was available again almost 43 hours after it was shut down.

"It was an attack, and we believe from overseas," said David Kalisch from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

An Australian intelligence agency is warning that cyber-criminals will target the upcoming G20 summit in Brisbane, saying they could include state-sanctioned hackers, trade spies or activists.

Tor, the prominent system for protecting Internet privacy, said on Wednesday many of its users trying to reach hidden sites might have been identified by government-funded researchers.

Multiple users on Apple Inc's online support forum and Twitter have reported an unusual smartphone and tablet hack in which cyber attackers were said to have locked Australian users' smartphones and demanded payment in return for unlocking them.

Foreign Minister Bob Carr said the report would not damage Canberra's ties with its biggest trade partner China.

The man is a self-proclaimed leader of the group Lulz Security (Lulzsec), a computer hacking group that has existed since 2011.

The new Australian laws to protect communication networks from cyber attacks could exclude companies simply because they're Chinese.

Chinese telecoms giant Huawei hit back at claims it was a security risk following its barring from Australia's broadband rollout.