Chinese hackers fear in breach

MPs’ passwords changed

CHINESE hackers could be behind a breach of the federal parliamentary computing network being investigated by Australia’s top cyber security agency.

There is no evidence any data has been accessed, but the investigation remains ongoing, Speaker Tony Smith and Senate President Scott Ryan said.

MPs and staff had to change their passwords on security advice.

“We have no evidence that this is an attempt to influence the outcome of parliamentary processes or to disrupt or influence electoral or political processes,” Mr Smith and Mr Ryan said yesterday.

It is understood the Australian Signals Directorate is assisting and investigating, alongside the Department of Parliamentary Services.

Australian Cyber Security Centre head Alastair MacGibbon declined to speculate on whether it was a foreign source, but admitted the breach was sophisticated.

“We, of course, along with our allied agencies would be very keen to understand who it is that got into the system and why,” he said.

Mr MacGibbon said there was no evidence to date that anything was taken.

“My primary concern is making sure we get that offender out and we keep the offender out,” he said.

In March 2011, it was reported China was suspected of accessing the email system used by federal MPs, advisers, electorate staff and parliamentary employees. Security industry sources said it was possible China could be the source of the latest breach.

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s Fergus Hanson said it appeared a “nation state” was behind the incident.

“There would be lots of juicy correspondence between staffers about who is doing what and dirt files on different politicians,” Mr Hanson said.

Australia’s key intelligence agency ASIO has previously warned it expects a rise in the “sophistication and complexity” of cyber attacks by countries pursuing cyber espionage programs.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who held a Cabinet national security meeting in Sydney yesterday, has been briefed on the matter. However, he could not comment on the source of the attack.

“I should stress that there is no suggestion that government departments or agencies have been the target of any such incursion,” he said.