In the wake of a coordinated cyberattacks on Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has labeled the incident a ‘scourge,’ vowing to explore all possible measures to safeguard businesses from such scams.
These cyberattacks on Australia, which took place in November last year, affected well-known entities such as Dan Murphy’s, Event Cinemas, and Guzman Y Gomez, resulting in the unauthorized access of over 15,000 customer accounts.
Cybercriminals, operating with fraudulent intent, obtained login details from overseas counterparts and proceeded to make unauthorized online purchases, leaving thousands of unsuspecting customers vulnerable. The impacted individuals in these cyberattacks either had their credit card details saved on company websites or possessed gift cards and store credit for online transactions.
PM Anthony Albanese Takes Lead on Cyberattacks on Australia
Addressing the severity of the situation, Prime Minister Albanese emphasized the magnitude of cybercrime as a genuine threat to Australia’s economic security, reported Yahoo News. He expressed concern for the numerous individuals who had fallen victim to the attack despite acting in good faith, emphasizing the need for robust protection measures.
A spokesperson for Dan Murphy’s reported that less than 100 customer accounts were impacted, attributing the fraudulent transactions to email and password combinations obtained through third-party breaches. The company has taken immediate action, working closely with affected customers while continuing investigations to ensure the ongoing security of their systems and customer information.
Event Cinemas and Guzman Y Gomez, both targeted in these cyber attacks on Australia, are yet to provide comments on the incident. Binge, initially named in connection with the attack, clarified that its customers remain unaffected by credit card scams, Kasada founder Sam Crowther told the SMH. The streaming service assured that credit card details are managed off-platform, with comprehensive cybersecurity systems in place to monitor and mitigate potential risks.
Australia to Implement New Laws to Fight Cybercrime
The Iconic, a major online retailer, was also impacted by the scheme and has committed to refunding customers whose accounts were exploited for fraudulent orders.
To fight the ongoing cyberattacks on Australia, The Australian government revealed its 2023-2030 Cyber Security Strategy on November 22, 2023, to position Australia as a global cybersecurity leader by 2030.
Centered on six cyber shields, the strategy prioritizes the security of businesses and citizens, safe technology, world-class threat sharing, protected critical infrastructure, sovereign capabilities, and global resilience.
A commitment of A$586.9 million has been allocated to the strategy, including A$290.8 million for initiatives supporting small and medium businesses, enhancing public awareness, combating cybercrime, disrupting the ransomware business model, and fortifying Australians’ identity security.
The accompanying Action Plan outlines key initiatives for the next two years, focusing on strengthening foundational cybersecurity through collaboration between industry and government.
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