Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said today, Friday, that his country is undergoing a large-scale cyberattack, "behind which a state-backed entity" stands, pointing out that the attack targets the government, public services and companies.
He pointed out during a press conference that there are "Australian organizations currently targeted by a sophisticated cyber agency supported by a country", adding that the attack targets "Australian organizations in all types of sectors and at all levels of government, the economy, political organizations, health services and other vital infrastructure operators."
Morrison held his emergency press conference in Canberra to warn his citizens of "specific risks" they found themselves exposed to.
China, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Russia, the United States and a number of European countries have developed their capabilities in the field of cyber warfare.
Doubts are likely to loom over China, which recently imposed trade sanctions on Australian products, amid fierce tensions over diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Morrison said he had informed the opposition leader and officials of the country of the cyber attacks, which he described as "malicious", without giving details of the attacks, but said that no personal data had been hacked and that many of the attacks had failed.
tension
"It is not a new risk, but a specific one," the prime minister said, calling on Australian companies and institutions to protect themselves.
"We encourage organizations, especially in the area of health, critical infrastructure and basic services, to take expert advice," he said.
Reuters reported that Canberra concluded in March last year that China was responsible for a cyber attack targeting the Australian parliament. Australia has never announced the source of the attack, and Beijing has denied responsibility.
China is the main trading partner for Australia, which welcomes a large number of Chinese students and tourists, but relations have strained in recent years and tension has increased recently due to Canberra’s request to conduct an independent investigation into Beijing’s management of the emerging Corona virus outbreak in China in December, which sparked Beijing's wrath.
In what appears to be a countermeasures response to the Australian request, Beijing has blocked imports of Australian beef, imposed tariffs on Australian barley and published a warning to travelers about Australia about anti-Asian racism linked to the emerging SK.
China recently sentenced an Australian citizen to death for drug trafficking, in a ruling likely to fuel severe tension between Beijing and Canberra.