The Australian Signals Directorate’s (ASD) Annual Cyber Threat Report for 2022-23 lays bare Australia’s cyber threat landscape.
Reflecting the global strategic context, this year’s report highlights that Australian governments, critical infrastructure, businesses and households continue to be the target of malicious state and non-state cyber actors.
The report illustrates the persistent threat that state cyber capabilities pose to Australia. It also shows that cybercrime remains a major threat to Australians, as cybercriminals continue to adapt their destructive tactics to extract maximum profit from their crimes.
Deputy prime minister and minister for defence, Richard Marles, said, “Recent global and national events have demonstrated the growing threat to Australia by malicious cyber actors.”
“The Annual Cyber Threat Report demonstrates how governments, businesses and critical infrastructure networks have been targeted by state and non-state actors, with the aim to destabilise and disrupt.”
Data breaches also affected millions of Australians in the last financial year and risked ongoing harm through fraud and scams.
Many Australian systems and networks were at risk because they were unpatched and threat actors were quick to exploit critical vulnerabilities, sometimes launching attacks within hours.
The release of this year’s Annual Cyber Threat Report reinforces the call for all Australians to play their part in protecting our nation’s cybersecurity future.
The Albanese Government is committed to leading these efforts by maintaining an enduring focus on cyber security, including through its investment in Project REDSPICE.
Marles continued, “The report underscores the importance of ASD’s work in defending Australia’s security and prosperity and reinforces the significance of the Albanese Government’s investment in ASD’s cyber and intelligence capabilities under Project REDPSICE.”