Ready for the PM’s cyber press conference. It’s so unprofessional that he calls it for 9am but now we’re already past 9.15am but he hasn’t appeared. It’s pretty basic stuff to be able to walk on stage at the scheduled time.
Here we go. I may be up to 60 seconds behind the broadcast TV because I’m watching the iView stream. So Twitter will show you these tweets on the weekend.
It’s a sophisticated and broad attack across Australian organisations from a state-based actor. I’m not sure yet why this is being announced today.
Wait, what? He’s saying this has been going on for some time, but we’re here today to be reminded of the ways to protect our organisations? Now he’s boasting how much money they’re spending on cyber. Is this meant to be a dead cat?
He did say the new Cyber Security Strategy will be released in “the coming months”. The one that’s already months and months late. (I’m told Aug–Sep.)
Defence Minister Reynolds has just told us to patch our internet-facing devices. [Rolls eyes.]
Reynolds says there’s a new cyber guide at cyber.gov.au but I can’t see it there just yet. Refresh refresh refresh...
This is a totally content-free press conference. Either it’s a really lame dead cat, or laying the groundwork for some diplomatic thing, or a complete over-sell of a routine ACSC advisory for... some reason. Morrison has his “I am being serious” quiet voice on.
Here we go. “Advisory 2020-008: Copy-paste compromises – tactics, techniques and procedures used to target multiple Australian networks” cyber.gov.au/news/advisory-…
The advisory itself is at cyber.gov.au/threats/adviso….
The advisory itself is at cyber.gov.au/threats/adviso….
Immediate response from me: There is no “recent incident”. It was a hand-wave about lots of organisations being attacked (which happens every day) and it’s increasing in frequency in recent months (which is what happens). It sounds like making Situation Normal suddenly worse.
I’m about to look at the Advisory itself, but the subheads appears to be a routine “This is what the bad guys are doing, this is the stuff to focus on”. These documents are prepared routinely. I’m not sure why this one is being given such a boost. Stand by.
I’ll also be on ABC Sydney just after 1000 AEST to say that, unless I see something of actual note in the Advisory.
Oops on ABC Melbourne any second now.
OK, on ABC Sydney next. abc.net.au/radio/sydney/l… or the ABC Listen app. Je suis on hold.
“Prime Minister says Australia is under cyber attack from state-based actor” by @ashabeeeee zdnet.com/article/prime-…
“Light on detail and refusing to attribute, Scott Morrison says state-based attacks are targeting all levels of government, as well as the private sector.”
“Light on detail and refusing to attribute, Scott Morrison says state-based attacks are targeting all levels of government, as well as the private sector.”
OK, it’s time for me to ignore the police drone outside and write my cyber thing.
“China behind major cyber attack on Australian governments and businesses” reckons the ABC abc.net.au/news/2020-06-1…
“Of course it is China,” said @tomatospy earlier.
I am reading all your cyber speculations, but won’t reply individually. My thoughts will appear at @zdnetaustralia shortly.
Me at @zdnetaustralia: “Scott Morrison cries ‘Cyber wolf!’ to deniably blame China” zdnet.com/article/scott-… Contains some @tomatospy. #cyberwolf
“I have been very clear about what I’ve said about this today, earlier this morning,” said the PM at lunchtime. pm.gov.au/media/doorstop… 
