Warning from Australian cyber agency: Online services may be disrupted

Stating that system security should be preferred over accessibility in the face of rising cyber threats, the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) warned that essential and important online services could unexpectedly go offline.

In its annual cyber threat report, the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) announced that it responded to 1,500 cyber security incidents during the 2025-26 period, representing a 20 percent increase compared to the previous year. The agency also reported more than 4,400 potential malicious cyber incidents targeting third parties, including businesses, governments, and critical infrastructure, representing an 80 percent increase in a year.

ASD Director Abigail Bradshaw pointed out that artificial intelligence tools are used by attackers to gather intelligence, disrupt critical infrastructure, and steal money. Officials emphasized that the latest artificial intelligence models must be adopted in order to automate defenses and counter AI-powered attacks, noting that aging legacy technologies that no longer receive updates pose a major risk. Government officials and ministers also stated that institutions must treat cyber security as a primary leadership responsibility amid the escalating threat environment.