Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Senator, for that question. Globally, malicious cyberactors are taking advantage, quite shamelessly and cruelly, of the COVID-19 pandemic. This government has continued to strike back against highly organised and highly sophisticated foreign cybercriminals. We've done this through an offensive operation led by the Australian Signals Directorate.

The Australian Signals Directorate has collaborated with the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and the Australian Federal Police to use their offensive cybercapabilities to attack cybercriminals' tools and disrupt their business models. These criminals are simply ruthless, and they are attacking and targeting Australians by tricking victims into downloading advanced criminal malware onto their mobile devices. This ASD led operation has protected hundreds, if not thousands, of Australians from these crimes. (Time expired)