ACSC report highlights cyber threat activity

The Australian Cyber Security Centre’s annual report has revealed more than 160 cybercrime reports were lodged each day with the ACSC, which responded to almost 2,300 cyber security incidents to protect Australians and Australian interests.

The ACSC Annual Cyber Threat Report: July 2019 to June 2020 jointly released by the ACSC, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, outlines key cybercrime and cyber security activity.

Minister for Defence, Senator Linda Reynolds CSC said the Australian government’s record investment in cyber capabilities over the next decade has never been more important.

“Strengthening Australia’s cyber security capabilities and resilience has been, and continues to be, a top national security priority,” she said. “The Australian Signals Directorate is also using its offensive cyber capabilities to strike back against foreign cybercriminals and disrupt malicious cyber activities targeting Australians.”

The Australian Government is boosting Australia’s cyber resilience through its $1.35 billion investment in cyber security over the next decade, outlined in the Cyber Enhanced Situational Awareness and Response (CESAR) Package.

Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton said the release of the Threat Report follows the launch of the 2020 Cyber Security Strategy on 6 August, setting out the Australian Government’s plan to protect Australians online.

“The tools and tradecraft of cybercrime are becoming easier and cheaper to obtain. Cyber security is everyone’s responsibility, it is up to all of us to make it harder for them to be used successfully against us,” said Minister Dutton.

The ACSC Annual Cyber Threat Report is available at: https://www.cyber.gov.au/acsc/view-all-content/reports-and-statistics/acsc-annual-cyber-threat-report-july-2019-june-2020.