RICHARD BEJTLICH, CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER, MANDIANT: It is standard operating practice for them to break into the network of the counter party, learn everything that they can, and then use that to improve their own competitive stance. KERRY O'BRIEN: And the likely culprit isn't hard to find. KERRY O'BRIEN: Industry too, has been hit.ĭONALD MCGURK, CEO, CODAN LTD: It's difficult because it's probably a matter of national security. MARK DREYFUS, ATTORNEY-GENERAL: There's a great deal of intelligence material that we don't comment on.

KERRY O'BRIEN, PRESENTER: Cyber thieves have infiltrated Australia's most sensitive government departments. It can also be seen on ABC News 24 on Saturday at 8.00pm, ABC iview or at /4corners. The program is repeated on Tuesday 28th May at 11.35pm. HACKED!, reported by Andrew Fowler and presented by Kerry O'Brien, goes to air on Monday 27th May at 8.30pm on ABC1. Although it's unclear if the hackers are working for the Chinese Government, those same experts believe that any company doing significant business in China must assume it will be the target of corporate espionage. Governments refuse to speak up because inevitably they will be asked, who is doing this? The answer is uncomfortable.Ī number of people, including former government advisors in cyber security, claim the digital trail leads to China. Companies won't speak about the break-ins because they fear it will alarm clients and shareholders. In each case it explains how the security system might have been breached.Ī deafening silence surrounds this issue. Speaking with security specialists and insiders, Four Corners also details a number of specific high level break-ins involving Government departments. The break-in meant secure communications used by Australia's allies could be compromised. It appears the hackers accessed the system holding vital design information involving a military radio system. In one case, an Australian company that supplies secret communications equipment used by military across the globe had its computer network hacked. Their intention is to steal national security secrets and vital business information.

Next on Four Corners reporter Andrew Fowler reveals that hackers, working from locations overseas, have targeted key Federal Government departments and major corporations in Australia. Few in government or business will admit the full extent of the break-ins, with one expert calling it a 'dirty little secret'. While debate rages over Australia's border security, there's growing evidence that the greatest threat to Australia's national security potentially comes from foreign computer hackers.

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