Security News

Will Australia Ever Dig Itself Out of the Cybersecurity Skills Shortage?
2024-05-28 13:29

Australia continues to grapple with the ramifications of a massive cyber security skills shortage, underscored by another recent large-scale data breach. A multi-faceted cyber security strategy, supported by investments into scaling cyber capabilities, will help Australia address the root causes that explain why so many data breaches are being reported with such frequency.

CISOs in Australia Urged to Take a Closer Look at Data Breach Risks
2024-05-24 13:00

Steenkamp said he has observed many Australian organisations are yet to assume the "Paradigm shifting" view of risk around data estates that is necessary for future data governance, and soon, local CISOs could be caught in the regulatory crosshairs as a new global wave of regulatory action breaks on local shores. He recommends organisations get on top of data estates using measures like better classifying data records, asking whether data needs to be retained and minimising data through data disposal.

Cisco’s Splunk Acquisition Should Help Security Pros See Threats Sooner in Australia and New Zealand
2024-05-16 13:23

Craig Bates, Splunk vice president of Australia and New Zealand, said the deal will help customers defend against modern threats by tooling security operations centres up with end-to-end security and observability. He added security data unification will be key to organisations in the future as they battle threats increasingly launched with the aid of AI. What does the Cisco and Splunk combination mean for cyber security software customers?

Black Basta Ransomware Strikes 500+ Entities Across North America, Europe, and Australia
2024-05-13 10:01

The Black Basta ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation has targeted more than 500 private industry and critical infrastructure entities in North America, Europe, and Australia since its...

Largest non-bank lender in Australia warns of a data breach
2024-05-12 14:16

Firstmac Limited is warning customers that it suffered a data breach a day after the new Embargo cyber-extortion group leaked over 500GB of data allegedly stolen from the firm. Yesterday, Have I Been Pwned creator Troy Hunt published on X a sample of the notification letter sent to Firstmac customers, informing them of a severe data breach.

Combatting Deepfakes in Australia: Content Credentials is the Start
2024-05-08 09:00

There is growing consensus on how to address the challenge of deepfakes in media and businesses, generated through technologies such as AI. Earlier this year, Google announced that it was joining the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity as a steering committee member - other organisations in the C2PA include OpenAI, Adobe, Microsoft, AWS and the RIAA. With growing concern about AI misinformation and deepfakes, IT professionals will want to pay close attention to the work of this body, and particularly Content Credentials, as the industry formalises standards governing how visual and video data is managed. Content Credentials are a form of digital metadata that creators can attach to their content to ensure proper recognition and promote transparency.

LockBit ransomware admin identified, sanctioned in US, UK, Australia
2024-05-07 14:04

The FBI, UK National Crime Agency, and Europol have unveiled sweeping indictments and sanctions against the admin of the LockBit ransomware operation, with the identity of the Russian threat actor revealed for the first time. According to a new indictment by the US Department of Justice and a press release by the NCA, the LockBit ransomware operator known as 'LockBitSupp' has been confirmed to be a Russian national named Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev, who reportedly earned $100 million as part of the gang's activities.

Australia’s spies and cops want ‘accountable encryption’ - aka access to backdoors
2024-04-25 00:29

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Firebird RAT creator and seller arrested in the U.S. and Australia
2024-04-13 14:17

A joint police operation between the Australian Federal Police and the FBI has led to the arrest and charging of two individuals who are believed to be behind the development and distribution of the "Firebird" remote access trojan, later rebranded as "Hive.". The Australian Federal Police alleges that the Australian developed and sold the RAT on a dedicated hacking forum, enabling other users who paid for the tool to remotely access victims' computers and perform unauthorized activity.

U.S., U.K., Australia Sanction Russian REvil Hacker Behind Medibank Breach
2024-01-24 08:55

Governments from Australia, the U.K., and the U.S. have imposed financial sanctions on a Russian national for his alleged role in the 2022 ransomware attack against health insurance provider...