Spy agency warns active Russian hackers targeting Australian industry

Australia's signals intelligence agency has warned of an active cyberattack campaign targeting the country's industry. Officials said attackers are specifically targeting network devices that run outdated software versions and are protected by predictable passwords.

The agency said the threat extends to companies across critical infrastructure and industrial sectors. Attackers were described as attempting to infiltrate networks through devices such as laptops, using that access as a foothold to reach broader systems.

Officials assess that Russia-linked actors are behind the campaign, though no definitive statement was made on whether the attacks are being directly state-directed.

Companies have been advised to keep their software up to date, use passwords that are difficult to predict, and limit access to network devices. The agency stressed that such basic measures could prevent the majority of these attacks.

The warning comes amid a period of rising cyber threats to critical infrastructure globally. Officials said they aim to increase cooperation with industry to stay prepared against similar attacks.