Australia Goes To Cyberwar With Islamic State

Australia is using offensive cyber capabilities to fight Islamic State in the virtual world.

Even as the war against ISIS intensifies on ground in both Iraq and Syria Australia has now said that it has been waging a cyber war against the world’s most dangerous terrorist group. 

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said in a message to the parliament recently that in addition to supporting allied forces in Iraq and Syria in the war against ISIS, Australia is using offensive cyber capabilities to fight the war in the virtual world.

Turnbull added that the country’s cyber war was making a real difference to operations in Syria and Iraq and was subject to international rules of engagement.

In April this year, Turnbull had launched the government’s $230 million Cyber Security Strategy under the guidance of the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) to acknowledge its offensive cyber capabilities. 

No country in recent times has invested such a high amount in dealing with cyber threats. Even America, which has been targeted several times over the last few years, hasn’t invested such a huge amount to bolster its cyber defense.

Then in July, a massive recruitment drive was held to strengthen the unit.

Turnbull emphasized in a ministerial statement that all offensive cyber operations were “subject to stringent legal oversight” and “consistent with our support for the International rules-based order and our obligations under international law.”

He acknowledged the fact that cyber-warfare was fairly new but he believed it was of increasing importance.

Acknowledging the hurdles that have been faced, he said, “Increasingly widespread use of encrypted communications platforms makes the detection and interception of terrorist communications far more difficult. Human intelligence and the strong relationships and trust on which it depends are more important than ever.”

Domestically, the country has faced several cyber-attacks including a massive attack on its Defence, Meteorological Department and Austrade. Approximately, 1,095 security incidents on Government systems were recorded in the last financial year.

While opposition leader Bill Shorten agreed with the PM on neutralizing Islamic States’ cyber capabilities, he also called for improved cyber security in the domestic business sectors, especially the small and medium-sized businesses.  

“They need help in the way that's simple enough for them to incorporate it into their business and that they can afford. This means having the resources to design cyber defences for products, processes, and people,” Shorten said.

He further claimed that trust and collaboration should be present in every cybersecurity conversation as no government could act alone to combat threats.

"We must collaborate with the private sector, sharing information and strategies, learning from each other's successes and the failures," Shorten said.

Adding, “That is true for our collaboration with international peers, we must seek a new layer of engagement with our old allies and partners, recognizing the frameworks and treaties written for a Cold War world need to be updated for an age where people can Google bomb-making instructions and 3D print guns," he added.

As the global warfare has changed from hand-to-hand battle to cyber warfare, Australia’s advancement in cyber security is important to prevent the country's government and non-government agencies and institutions from attack, Shorten, stated.

While Turnbull called for intensified cyber warfare against ISIS, the Cyber Security Minister, Dan Tehan warned that the country’s defence against cyber-attacks needed improvement to keep up with growing online crimes and espionage. According to him, Australia is still vulnerable to serious cyber-attacks.

He said, “Cyber storms will continue to happen around the world. Malicious state actors are actively using cyber technology against our government and our businesses. Cyber-crime is growing; hackers are still trying to prove that no system is secure. Let's be under no illusion, a serious cyber-attack has the potential to cause the same damage as a terrorist attack.”

Greg Austin, a professor of cyber security at the University of New South Wales praised Tehan for his frank approach to the threats and said, “The Minister made a great breakthrough in public policy for Australia by being much more open with the Australian public about the threat about extreme cyber-attack. He called his address 'cyber storm', and that's the sort of understand that the Australian public needs about the type of threat we face.”

Ein News:               Australia Lagging in Cyber War:
 

« War In The Information Age
IBM’s Watson Will Use AI To Treat Cancer »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

Perimeter 81 / How to Select the Right ZTNA Solution

Perimeter 81 / How to Select the Right ZTNA Solution

Gartner insights into How to Select the Right ZTNA offering. Download this FREE report for a limited time only.

NordLayer

NordLayer

NordLayer is an adaptive network access security solution for modern businesses — from the world’s most trusted cybersecurity brand, Nord Security. 

CSI Consulting Services

CSI Consulting Services

Get Advice From The Experts: * Training * Penetration Testing * Data Governance * GDPR Compliance. Connecting you to the best in the business.

Jooble

Jooble

Jooble is a job search aggregator operating in 71 countries worldwide. We simplify the job search process by displaying active job ads from major job boards and career sites across the internet.

MIRACL

MIRACL

MIRACL provides the world’s only single step Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) which can replace passwords on 100% of mobiles, desktops or even Smart TVs.

Continuity Shop

Continuity Shop

Continuity Shop provides training and consultancy in Business Continuity and Information Security to some of the world's biggest organisations.

Casaba Security

Casaba Security

Casaba are specialists in software security providing managed Software Development Lifecycle services as well as products for security testing.

Telia Cygate

Telia Cygate

Cygate are specialists in information security, data networks, and data centre and cloud technologies.

Norwegian Information Security laboratory (NISlab)

Norwegian Information Security laboratory (NISlab)

NISlab conducts international competitive research in information and cyber security and operates study programs in this area.

BCS Financial

BCS Financial

BCS Financial delivers financial and insurance solutions. Specialty risk products include Cyber and Privacy Liability insurance.

PrimeKey

PrimeKey

PrimeKey provides organisations with the ability to implement security solutions such as e-ID, e-Passports, authentication, digital signatures, unified digital identities and validation.

bwtech@UMBC

bwtech@UMBC

The bwtech@UMBC Cyber Incubator is an innovative business incubation program that delivers business and technical support to start-up and early-stage cybersecurity/IT products and services companies.

Cog Systems

Cog Systems

Cog Systems offer an embedded solution built on modularity, proactive security, trustworthiness, and adaptability to enable highly secure connected devices.

Tigera

Tigera

Tigera provides zero-trust network security and continuous compliance for Kubernetes platforms that enables enterprises to meet their security and compliance requirements.

Aergo

Aergo

Aergo offers an easier and more proven way to adopt blockchain and transform your business while building on your existing IT and cloud assets.

Global Cyber Risk (GCR)

Global Cyber Risk (GCR)

Global Cyber Risk is a technology and advisory services firm that provides first tier cybersecurity services to both large corporations and small and mid-sized businesses.

Infinipoint

Infinipoint

Infinipoint pioneers the first Device-Identity-as-a-Service (DIaaS) solution, addressing Zero Trust device access and enabling enterprises of all sizes to automate cyber hygiene.

AgilePQ

AgilePQ

AgilePQ visibly secures IoT devices worldwide to protect the privacy, safety, and well-being of all people.

ConductorOne

ConductorOne

ConductorOne is building the identity security platform for the modern workforce.

Seven AI

Seven AI

Seven AI develops cyber security software designed to identify online threats.

Amiosec

Amiosec

Amiosec is a British cyber innovation business specialising in delivering simple-to-use solutions to the complex problems of the modern world.