Cybersecurity and You

The news on this issue has been simmering for the past few days, although a lot has been written on the subject over the past few months here in Australia.  Small Australian busineses have been targetted, and information on computer systems destroyed and some have been subject to "ransomware" attacks, requiring a ransom to release control of the computers affected and data made available again.

This is serious stuff for small businesses, but a more insidious form of cyber attacks is occurring on large business.

There are a wide number of articles discussing this issue including a significant one published in the AFR some weeks ago by Christopher Joye.  It is publicly available - a notable issue in itself as the AFR has a user pay system.  It is important.

http://www.afr.com/f/free/national/it_global_cyber_war_out_there_94da3CY7Avufi9jp5d0JTI

Today the Australian newpaper has several articles discussing the issue  See them here -

  http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/drab-tower-houses-greatest-threat/story-fnb64oi6-1226581878746#

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/new-us-strategy-document-warns-on-trade-secret-theft-amid-china-concerns/story-e6frg6so-1226582481378

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/world-commentary/chinas-cyber-spies-are-stealing-more-than-secrets/story-e6frg6ux-1226582183261

There are many more to be seen on the internet.  For example -

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57570187-38/chinas-cyberwar-intrusions-are-the-new-normal-faq/?tag=nl.e703&s_cid=e703&ttag=e703

It is of concern that utilities and infrastructure are likely to be long term targets, not just trade secrets from commercial organisations.

Can you protect yourself? 

It might be difficult given the quality of organisations both government and large businesses targetted successfully.  But that said, keeping your firewalls and protection up to date is a start.  Be wary of things on line.  This sort of approach is not new and sound, but it might not be enough to efforts by a serious player.  That might be Chinese, or so is the inference in the various articles above. 

update on 22/2/2013 - another article in the Australian.  This will not go away.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/us-vows-war-on-hacking-as-china-hits-back-at-commercial-stunt/story-e6frg6so-1226582998309