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❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding attempted cyber attacks on government departments and agencies within various ministerial portfolios. The response indicates a high volume of attempted attacks on external networks but no successful breaches compromising sensitive data.

AnsweredQoN 3685Legislative Assembly

Asked

14 August 2018

Member

Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup

Portfolio

Child Protection; Women's Interests; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Community Services

QuestionView source ↗

For all departments, agencies, government trading enterprises or boards within the Minister’s portfolio responsibilities I ask since 11 March 2017: (a) How many attempted cyber attacks have there been on internal network systems and if any: (i) How many of these were conducted by a non-state foreign actor; (ii) How many of these were conducted by a nation-state foreign actor; and (iii) How many were successful and was any material containing Cabinet or customer related detail compromised; (b) How many attempted cyber attacks have there been on external network systems or websites and if any: (i) How many of these were conducted by a non-state foreign actor; (ii) How many of these were conducted by a nation-state foreign actor; and (iii) How many were successful and was any material containing Cabinet or customer related detail compromised; and (c) How many attempted cyber attacks have there been on any internet enabled devices (i.e. iPhones, iPads etc.) and if any: (i) How many of these were conducted by a non-state foreign actor; (ii) How many of these were conducted by a nation-state foreign actor; and (iii) How many were successful and was any material containing Cabinet related detail compromised?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

18 September 2018

Responded by

Minister for Child Protection; Women's Interests; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Community Services

Response time

9 days

This answer covers multiple Ministers’ portfolios, including Disability Services, Seniors and Ageing, Volunteering, Housing, Veterans Issues, Youth, as well as my Child Protection, Women’s Interests, Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence and Community Services portfolios.
This answer also encompasses the Department of Communities and the legacy agencies whose functions were amalgamated into the Department of Communities from 1 July 2017.
(a) None detected.
(i) Not applicable.
(ii) Not applicable.
(iii) Not applicable.
(b) Since December 2017, an average of 279,000 attempted cyber-attacks have been detected per month. Prior to this date, statistical data was recorded for security events rather than attempted cyber-attacks.
(i) Unable to determine.
(ii) Unable to determine.
(iii) None.
(c) None detected.
(i) Not applicable.
(ii) Not applicable.
(iii) Not applicable.

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