Security News > 2022 > November > Australia to 'stand up and punch back' against cyber crims
Australia's government has declared the nation is planning to go on the offensive against international cyber crooks following recent high-profile attacks on local health insurer Medibank and telco Optus.
Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security Clare O'Neil said the operation will "Scour the world, hunt down the criminal syndicates and gangs who are targeting Australia in cyber-attacks, and disrupt their efforts."
"This is Australia standing up and punching back," she said during an interview on local political talking heads program Insiders.
O'Neill said the operation will "For the first time [be] offensively attacking these people."
"It weakens these groups if governments like ours collaborate with the FBI and other police forces and intelligence agencies around the world. The second important thing that we need to do is stand up and say that Australia is not going to be a soft target to this sort of thing. And if people come after our citizens, we are going to go after them."
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