TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Australia says 'state actor' hacked parties, parliament

Prime Minister Scott Morrison told lawmakers security agencies looking at a hack of lawmakers "also became aware that the networks of some political parties; Liberal, Labor and Nationals have also been affected".

News Desk (Agence France-Presse)
Sydney, Australia
Mon, February 18, 2019 Published on Feb. 18, 2019 Published on 2019-02-18T09:18:11+07:00

Change text size

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison (C) delivers a national apology to child sex abuse victims in the House of Representatives in Parliament House in Canberra on October 22, 2018. Morrison on October 22 issued an emotive apology to children who suffered sexual abuse, saying the state had failed to protect them from Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison (C) delivers a national apology to child sex abuse victims in the House of Representatives in Parliament House in Canberra on October 22, 2018. Morrison on October 22 issued an emotive apology to children who suffered sexual abuse, saying the state had failed to protect them from (AFP/Sean Davey)

A

ustralia on Monday said a "sophisticated state actor" had hacked the country's main political parties and parliament, just weeks before a closely fought election.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison told lawmakers security agencies looking at a hack of lawmakers "also became aware that the networks of some political parties; Liberal, Labor and Nationals have also been affected".

"Our cyber experts believe that a sophisticated state actor is responsible for this malicious activity," he said, without mentioning any specific country.

"Our security agencies have detected this activity and acted decisively to confront it. They are securing these systems and protecting users," he said.

Earlier this month authorities reported a "security incident on the parliamentary computing network" forcing users -- including the prime minister and the cabinet -- to change passwords and take other security measures.

The Australian Signals Directorate confirmed it was working with the parliament in response to the attack, giving a strong indication that sophisticated actors were suspected from the start.

Speculation has focused on China, although there is no official finger pointing at Beijing and cyber experts frequently warn that attribution is time consuming and difficult.

Australians are expected to go to the polls in mid-May, raising the spectre that hackers could be trying to influence the outcome of the vote, or change the tenor of the debate.

Morrison said "there, is no evidence of any electoral interference". 

"We have put in place a number of measures to ensure the integrity of our electoral system."

He added that the Australian Cyber Security Centre stood ready to help any party or electoral body in need of support.

"They have already briefed the Electoral Commissions and those responsible for cyber security for all states and territories."

 

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.

Share options

Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!

Change text size options

Customize your reading experience by adjusting the text size to small, medium, or large—find what’s most comfortable for you.

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

Continue in the app

Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.