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Australia's Major Political Parties Targeted by 'Sophisticated State Actor', Prime Minister Says (theguardian.com)

Australia's major political parties have been targeted by a "sophisticated state actor", according to Scott Morrison (Prime Minister of Australia), as part of a breach of the Parliament House computer network. From a report: The head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre, Alastair MacGibbon, says agencies were unsure what material had been taken in the incident because the rapid remediation efforts had removed some of the forensic evidence. The prime minister confirmed the state-sponsored intrusion in a statement to parliament on Monday, but said there was no evidence of electoral interference and measures had been put in place to "ensure the integrity of our electoral system."

Morrison said he had instructed the Australian Cyber Security Centre "to be ready to provide any political party or electoral body in Australia with immediate support, including making their technical experts available." He said the federal and state electoral commissions and cybersecurity agencies in the states had been briefed and the cybersecurity centre in Canberra had also worked with global anti-virus companies "so the world can detect this malicious activity."

3 of 61 comments (clear)

  1. Not a surprise by Mostly+a+lurker · · Score: 1, Funny

    Russia seems to have contributed to the misinformation over Brexit which, regardless of what happens next, certainly seems destined to destabilise the UK and possibly the EU for years to come. They may also have been a decisive factor in Trump's election as US president, though their contribution is difficult to separate from other factors. It is not surprising that state actors see similar attempts as an interesting way of trying to achieve their foreign policy goals.

  2. Help! Truth!! We're melting!!! by Archtech · · Score: 3, Funny

    'Australia's major political parties have been targeted by a "sophisticated state actor"...'

    OMG it's Putin! He's weaponized truth!!

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    I am sure that there are many other solipsists out there.
  3. Re:A thought... by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 5, Funny

    Which is the most "sophisticated state actor" you can think of?

    Why, Ronald Reagan, of course.

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    Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!