Australia Declares War on Cybercrime Syndicates

[Stopspying]

Content source

https://www.darkreading.com/threat-intelligence/australia-declares-war-against-cybercriminals

"Australian authorities have announced a new offensive against cybercrime, standing up a a joint operation between the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Signals Directorate to disrupt cybercriminal operations.
The move comes after two headline-making breaches against Australian companies Optus and Medibank. The task force will collect information about cyber threats and identify targets with the potential to inflict harm on Australian national interests, according to the announcement about the new offensive cybercrime strategy.
"This operation will collect intelligence and identify ring-leaders, networks and infrastructure in order to disrupt and stop their operations — regardless of where they are," a statement from the Australian Attorney General explained about the new ransomware task force. "It sends an important message to criminals and hackers intending to do harm — Australia will fight back...."

Australia Declares War on Cybercrime Syndicates

An international counter-ransomware task force has been announced by Australian authorities following the recent Optus and Medibank data breaches.

www.darkreading.com

Reading about this announcement my first thought was 'why weren't they " collect(ing) information about cyber threats and identify targets with the potential to inflict harm on Australian national interests," already?!'

 

[Victor M]

It is good that a government steps in. This kind of effort is much needed in the world.

 

[Stopspying]

It is good that a government steps in. This kind of effort is much needed in the world.

Yes, especially when that country has appeared to have been subjected to a high number of serious hacks over a short time frame. But, they should have already been doing what they now say they will do, for a long time IMO. In reality they have been, but seemingly not very well.