Christopher Joye — Cyber-attackers penetrate Reserve Bank networks

The Reserve Bank of Australia’s computer networks have been repeatedly and successfully hacked in a series of cyber-attacks to infiltrate sensitive internal information, including by ­Chinese-developed malicious software.

The RBA is sufficiently concerned about these risks that it has had a private security firm carry out “penetration testing”, or authorised hacking, of its computer networks to assess the integrity of its digital defences.

After investigations by The Australian Financial Review, RBA officials disclosed that the central bank had been infiltrated by a Chinese-developed malicious software, or “malware”spy program that was seeking intelligence on sensitive G20 negotiations.Multiple computers within the RBA’s network were compromised. The RBA would not comment on what information was stolen, which executives within the bank were targeted, or over what period the assailants had access to its systems.

Financial Review
Cyber-attackers penetrate Reserve Bank networks
Christopher Joye