A new battlefield

We will have a cyber-equivalent of Pearl Harbor at some time, and we do not want to wait for that wake-up call - Jamie Gorelick, Deputy Attorney General of the United States during the Clinton Administration The recent online attacks that targeted Google and other major companies in China have highlighted an issue that is becoming increasing prominent in our modern society – cyber attacks.

Cyber attacks are not limited to a geographic location, or a coastline, rather they can encompass cities, communities, and the world in which we live. Cyber conflicts can include everything from cyber espionage and equipment disruption to attacks on critical national and commercial infrastructure.

In this environment, it was welcome news that last week the Australian Government launched its new cyber warfare centre in Canberra. The Department of Defence says it repelled 2400 cyber attacks in 2009 alone. These centres will increasingly be seen to form an essential part of our Defence arsenal, along with the traditional army, navy and air force.

Cyber attacks have become a worldwide phenomenon. Recent incidents include the war between Georgia and Russia in South Ossetia in 2008, when it was claimed Russian Internet users bonded together to start and organise their own cyber attacks on Georgian targets.

In December 2009, South Korean media reported that North Korean hackers may have stolen secret information pertaining to the United States and South’s Korea’s operational plan for the defence of South Korea, in the event of an invasion from the North.

In addition to the issue of cyber attacks, there is the issue of cyber crime.

Unprotected computers infected with malware or malicious software can be particularly vulnerable. In our submission to the House of Representatives Inquiry into Cybercrime last year, we referred to a Microsoft Security Intelligence Report (SIR v5) that found that 1 in every 204 Windows based computers in Australia was infected with malware, lower than the worldwide average of 1 in every 123.

Consistent with the global trend observed in 2007, there was a large increase in the detection of Trojans in Australia over the course of 2008. Trojans facilitate unauthorised access to a user’s computer. Evidence from Australia suggests that Trojans have become the troll of choice among criminals targeting victims.

Alongside the Federal Government’s own efforts, Microsoft continually works with organisations who are the targets of cyber espionage or crime, including Australian public and private sector organisations and law enforcement.

Further we assist organisations through our Malware Protection Centre Lab. Located in Melbourne it is our only southern hemisphere centre and one of only three such facilities located outside the United States.

Governments worldwide are also working to combat cyber crime.

The Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime, which entered into force in July 2004, is the only binding international treaty on the subject to have been adopted to date. It lays down guidelines for all governments wishing to develop legislation against cyber crime.

Open to signature by non-European states, the convention also provides a framework for international co-operation in this field.

In view of the Australian Government’s increasing engagement with multilateral processes and forums Australia has an opportunity to further assert its leadership and benefit from a number of provisions in the treaty by considering accessing to the Convention.

There are a number of benefits that will extend to Australia by it becoming a party to the Convention including multilateral access to information sharing agreements and the opportunity to help frame future versions of the Convention.

Sassoon Grigorian, Manager, Government Affairs

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