Cyber threat actors regularly target governments in order to access official ICT systems and data holdings.

In addition to cyber-attacks, ICT systems failures can significantly disrupt services heavily dependent on data-related infrastructure and communications such as the emergency services' ability to respond to an emergency.

Examples of significant events include the extreme threat posed by the BlueKeep remote desktop protocol vulnerability to Microsoft systems across government and an attack on ICT systems of hospitals and health services in Gippsland and south-west Victoria, both in 2019.

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Publish year Assurance activity Summary Organisation
2023 Senate Select Committee on Foreign Interference through Social Media (External link) Foreign interference through social media is a real, pervasive and growing threat and this report makes 17 recommendations aimed to make Australia an even harder target for the sophisticated disinformation campaigns of authoritarian regimes. Parliament of Australia
2023 ASD Cyber Threat Report 2022-2023 (External link) Australian governments, critical infrastructure, businesses and households continue to be the target of malicious cyber actors. This annual report illustrates that both state and non-state actors continue to show the intent and capability to compromise Australia’s networks, and also highlights the added complexity posed by emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. Australian Government
2023 Select Committee on Foreign Interference through Social Media (External link) A report that states foreign interference is now Australia’s principal national security threat and risks significantly undermining our values, freedoms and way of life. The report makes 17 recommendations relating to social media platforms in Australia Parliament of Australia