Australia's Defence department was badly exposed to China's hackers

[InfoSec News via ISN <isn () lists infosecnews org>]

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-s-defence-department-was-badly-exposed-to-china-s-hackers-20181129-p50j48.html

By Nick McKenzie & Angus Grigg
The Sydney Morning Herald
29 November 2018

The Australian defence department left itself badly exposed to cyber 
attacks due to the poor security practices of its contractors, according 
to a highly classified review by former federal police chief Mick Keelty.

In the 18 months since the review was completed, top military officials 
have scrambled to harden cyber security across the extended Defence 
network, after intelligence agencies indicated state-sponsored hackers 
mainly from China were penetrating the department using holes in its IT 
systems.

The hackers are understood to have used procurement interfaces and email 
contact between contractors and department officials as a back door to 
enter Defence's systems.

Home Affairs Minister, Peter Dutton has confirmed the effort to improve 
cyber infrastructure, revealing the Australian Security Intelligence 
Organisation had been tasked with helping Defence contractors improve 
security and combat intrusions.

[...]



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