Chinese state sponsored hackers increase attacks on Australian Companies


Christopher Joye reports on the Australian Financial Review website that Chinese state sponsored hackers have been ramping up their spying activities on Australian companies.

The attacks have been revealed by Mandiant, a cyber security firm.  Mark Goudie, Mandiant’s Australian Director of Investigations, claimed that highly skilled hackers referred to in the industry as “advanced persistent threats” or APT’s had been penetrating Australian mining and natural resources companies and lawyers and financial advisors associated with them.

The Chinese hackers particularly target companies that have dealings with organisations in China; however, another driver is to steal intellectual property which China can use to fuel its own economic growth.