Security News > 2020 > June > DDoS and dingoes: Australia to bolster cyber-defences with 500 hackers amid China spat

Australia will hire 500 hackers as part of a AU$1.35bn boost to protect the nation's networks from a wave of cyber attacks.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced this morning that the government would funnel the money from existing defence funding over the next decade to bolster the capabilities of the Australian Signals Directorate and the Australian Cybersecurity Centre.

"The federal government's top priority is protecting our nation's economy, national security and sovereignty. Malicious cyber activity undermines that," Morrison said in a statement.

The new spend will enable the Cyber Enhanced Situational Awareness and Response unit, or CESAR, to identify more cyber threats, disrupt more foreign cyber criminals, and build more partnerships between industry and government.

Headlining the package is AU$470m to create 500 new jobs within the ASD, an 1,800-strong agency responsible for thwarting cyber attacks.

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https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2020/06/30/australia_cyber_defence_fund/