ACSC Annual Cyber Threat Report 2020-21

The Assistant Minister for Defence released the second ACSC Annual Threat Report (Jul 2020-Jun 2021) today (15 Sep 21). The report reveals the statistics that demonstrate the growing level of threat to Australians from cybercrime over the last financial year. It reveals a 13% increase in cybercrime attacks over the previous year, impacting the Australian economy by an estimated $33 billion (AUD).

The report reveals a staggering 67,500 cybercrime reports in the last financial year, or one in every eight minutes!  This is an increase of nearly 13% over the previous year and represents a significant challenge to Australia's online activity.

The increase in ransomware is of no surprise to cybersecurity specialists, which rose 15% over last year, impacting all sectors of the Australian economy.  Furthermore, the report highlights the exploitation of the COVID-19 pandemic targeting vulnerable elements of the economy through the use of malicious software attacks.

The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) is the national cybersecurity organisation whose mission is directed at the protection of Australian business, government and individual online security.  It is part of the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), and partners include national and international centres in the fight against cybercrime and hostile state actors.  Specifically the ACSC:

• responds to cyber security threats and incidents as Australia’s computer emergency response team (CERT)
• collaborates with the private and public sector to share information on threats and increase resilience
• works with governments, industry and the community to increase awareness of cyber security
• provides cyber security information, advice and assistance to all Australians.

See our Useful Links page or visit Cybersecurity in the Members Area.