News Digest

Australia’s spy agency warns of G20 cyberattacks

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. As world leaders prepare to visit the Queensland state capital for the high-powered November 15-16 meeting, the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) said malicious emails appearing to relate to summits held in 2012 and 2013 had been sent to Australian government agencies in a bid to compromise computer networks and seek information. A spokesman for the Council of Registered Ethical Security Testers (CREST) Australia, which provides cyber and information security to individuals and businesses, said Friday that hackers could have a wide range of motivations.

They would love to just, you know, get into the traffic light system for example and just disrupt that. And what they’re after really is free international media.

Greg Rudd, CREST Australia spokesman

The ASD, which provides foreign signals intelligence to the Australian government and military, warned that the most commonly used means to gain access to networks was via socially engineered emails. These emails, which often appear work-related or from a friend or acquaintance, attempt to deceive the receiver into clicking on a link or an attachment which can install malicious software onto their computer. Once installed, this software can facilitate the theft of information.