THE SQUIZ
As concerns escalate about the havoc cybercriminals and ‘malicious state actors’ can wreak in the real world, the Morrison Government yesterday unveiled legislation that aims to protect our critical sectors. The list covers the sectors we need for our society to function – energy, communications, financial services, defence, food, water, and more. If the legislation passes, businesses and organisations in those fields will have to report cyber attacks on their operations. The government will offer help to fight off an attack if required. Some say compliance will create red tape, and there are privacy concerns. But Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said it brings the nation’s response to cyber threats more into line with how the government deals with “threats in the physical world.”

‘COS THAT’S BEEN A THING, RIGHT?
Cyber attacks on critical assets? Absolutely. Here in Oz, the Australian Cyber Security Centre said there were more than 67,500 reports of cybercrime of all types in 2020-21 – that’s one report every 8 minutes, and that’s just what’s reported. And experts say targeting of critical infrastructure and essential services is on the up. Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) boss Mike Burgess says that the nation’s adversaries could be preparing to sabotage our critical infrastructure. He worries they’re infecting systems with malicious code that can sit there for years before an attack is launched. It’s the brave new world…

ALMOST MAKES YOU LONG FOR THE DAYS WHEN WE COULD SEE THE ENEMY…
Or, to sound like a Miss Universe hopeful, wish for world peace. But while we’re talking about fighting more conventional battles, there are still concerns about the AUKUS deal Australia has forged with the US and UK. It’s raised issues for the world’s nuclear watchdog – the International Atomic Energy Agency – because we will be the first non-nuclear weapons state to acquire nuclear-powered subs – and that’s a grey area when it comes to monitoring. Oh, and Indonesia and Malaysia aren’t too thrilled with AUKUS because of its potential to destabilise the region. Onwards and upwards…