Australia has suffered an enormous ‘state-based’ cyber attack on its government, education, health, and business sectors — with initial reports stating China may be behind it

• Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has held a snap media conference to brief the nation on a large-scale cyber attack on the country.
• The sophisticated attack targeted the business sector as well as the government, including critical health infrastructure.
• While Morrison declined to name the country behind it, the ABC has reported that government sources believe it was China, amid rising tensions with the superpower.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has revealed that Australia has been the target of a large-scale cyber attack.

Briefing media on Friday morning, Scott Morrison said attacks had comprehensive in scope, aimed at the government, education, health, and business sectors.

“We know it is a sophisticated state-based cyber actor because of the scale and nature of the targeting and the tradecraft used.” Mr Morrison told reporters at an impromptu media conference held at Parliament House.

Morrison said cyberattacks on Australia had been increasing over recent months. While he did not name the country behind the attack, given rising political tensions, China was immediately at the fore of speculation.

“What I can confirm, with confidence, based on the advice, the technical advice that we have received, is that this is the action of a state-based actor with significant capabilities,” he said. “There aren’t too many state-based actors who have those capabilities.”

After the press conference concluded, the Australian Broadcasting Corportation reported that government officials believe the state actor behind the attack was China. Business Insider Australia, however, has not been able to confirm this independently.

The “malicious cyber activity” appears to have…

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