On June 19, the Morrison Government announced that Australian organisations were being targeted by a sophisticated state-based cyber actor.
The activity was targeting Australian organisations across a range of sectors, including all levels of government, industry, political organisations, education, health, essential service providers, and operators of other critical infrastructure - and could still be going now.
The attack comes as the fashion industry experiences a growing number of cyber-attacks on organisations like Toll and In Sport in recent months.
In the wake of the attack from the sophisticated state-based actor, the government is encouraging Australian organisations to assess their cyber security protocols and take the following three steps to ensure they're protected:
- Patch your internet facing devices promptly – ensuring any web or email servers are fully updated with the latest software
- Ensure you use multifactor authentication to secure your internet accessible infrastructure and cloud-based platforms
- Become an Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) partner to ensure you get the latest cyber threat advice so you can take the earliest possible action to protect yourself online
"The Australian Government is aware of and alert to the threat of cyber-attacks," the Federal Government said in a statement.
"The ACSC has already published a range of technical advisory notices in recent times, to alert potential targets and has been briefing States and Territories on risks and mitigations.
"Regrettably, this activity is not new – but the frequency has been increasing.
"Our objective is to raise awareness of these specific risks and targeted activities and tell you how you can take action to protect yourself.
"Cyber security is a shared responsibility of us all.
"It is vital that Australian organisations are alert to this threat and take steps to enhance the resilience of their networks."