Australian intelligence is warning that foreign nations are increasingly targeting the country’s critical infrastructure for sabotage. According to Mike Burgess, director-general of security at the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), foreign threat actors are using artificial intelligence (AI), disinformation, deepfakes, military espionage, and cyber attacks to undermine Australia’s national security.
Casey Ellis, founder of Bugcrowd, emphasized the importance of protecting critical infrastructure, as it is a primary target for cyber attacks by nation-states. He highlighted that cybersecurity incidents in Australia have shown a focus on critical infrastructure, with adversaries positioning themselves for opportunistic strikes.
Threats to Australia’s Military and Civilians
Burgess’s recent threat assessment highlighted concerns about AI-enabled disinformation, deepfakes, espionage, and foreign interference. He noted that advances in technology, particularly AI, pose a significant risk to national security.
Additionally, Burgess raised alarms about threats against Australia’s military personnel, including targeted surveillance and intelligence collection by foreign services. He identified the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the UK, and the US (AUKUS) as a priority target for intelligence gathering.
Foreign Nations Eye AUS Critical Infrastructure
ASIO’s assessment revealed that authoritarian regimes are increasingly willing to disrupt critical infrastructure to hinder decision-making and sow social discord. Burgess cited Russia’s actions in Ukraine as an example of how governments can use cyber attacks to sabotage infrastructure.
Foreign cyber units have been detected attempting to exploit Australia’s critical infrastructure networks, highlighting the real threat posed to the country. Burgess emphasized the need for proactive measures to defend against cyber threats and prevent future attacks.
