Germany issues hacking warning for users of Russian anti-virus software Kaspersky | Israel says government sites targeted by cyberattack | Facebook ramps up 'fake news' fight ahead of Aus May election
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Germany's cyber security agency on Tuesday warned users of an anti-virus software developed by Moscow-based Kaspersky Lab that it poses a serious risk of a successful hacking attack. Reuters
Israel says its government websites were hit by a cyberattack but services have since been restored. The websites of the ministry of the interior, the ministry of defence and others were affected on Monday. Al Jazeera
The tech giant is confident it can rid its own platform of misinformation, but critics are openly doubting its efforts. The Australian
ASPI ICPC
World War Hack: Open-source espionage, global cyber-militia descend on Russia
Stockhead
In response to Russian cyber attacks which preempted and then tore a few holes through Ukrainian infrastructure as Mr Putin launched his ‘Special Military Operation, ‘the Ukrainian government had already begun recruiting the world’s first multi-national volunteer digital army. Karly Winkler, deputy director and senior analyst at the International Cyber Policy Centre (ICPC) reckons a so-called cyber-militia is a hell of a risky proposition – “lacking coordination, controls and clear boundaries.”
Facebook ramps up 'fake news' fight ahead of May election
The Australian
David Swan
Facebook has previously been a hot spot for voter disinformation in Australia, including false claims that Labor would introduce a ‘death tax’ in Australia, while bad actors from Kosovo, Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia used nationalistic content to manipulate Australian Facebook users during the 2019 election, according to research from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI).
Ukraine-Russia
Top Ukrainian cyber official praises volunteer hacks on Russian targets, offers updates
CyberScoop
AJ Vicens
The Ukrainian government’s cyber efforts are focused on defense, not offense, a top official said Tuesday, but leaders are “grateful” for offensive actions taken by private hackers within Ukraine and around the world, “since every means and every scenario which will be used to weaken the military potential of Russian aggressors is useful.”
Ukrainian hackers say HackerOne is blocking their bug bounty payouts
TechCrunch
Zack Whittaker
Ukrainian hackers and security researchers say bug bounty platform HackerOne is withholding their bug bounty rewards, in some cases thousands of dollars, and refusing to let hackers withdraw their earnings.
QAnon, Ukraine and 'biolabs': Russian propaganda efforts boosted by U.S. far right
NBC News
Ben Collins and Kevin Collier
Russia’s early struggles to push disinformation and propaganda about Ukraine have picked up momentum in recent days, thanks to a variety of debunked conspiracy theories about biological research labs in Ukraine. Much of the false information is flourishing in Russian social media, far-right online spaces and U.S. conservative media, including Tucker Carlson’s show on Fox News.
Ukraine's thriving tech firms join cyber resistance against Russia
Nikkei Asia
Naoki Watanabe
Ukrainian startup MacPaw used to be known for publishing apps that clean and speed up Mac computers. These days, the outfit is busy designing a program that blocks Russian surveillance.
Facebook and Instagram users not allowed to call for death of Putin
The Guardian
Dan Milmo
Facebook and Instagram users are not allowed to call for the death of Vladimir Putin, according to an update issued by their parent company. Meta had issued new guidance on Friday allowing content that condoned the harm of Russian soldiers, with media reporting at the time that it also permitted content urging violence against the Russian president.
Ukraine arrests ‘hacker’ it says was routing calls for Russian troops
VICE
Joseph Cox
The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) says it has detained a “hacker” who was providing technical assistance to Russian troops in Ukraine by routing phone calls on their behalf, and who also sent text messages to Ukrainian security forces suggesting they surrender.
Cyber troops stretched thin in Ukraine response as NATO builds common air picture
Air Force Magazine
Shaun Waterman
The war in Ukraine has provided a wake-up call for U.S. military cyber defenders, who are facing hard choices about how to deploy limited resources, said Air Force Brig. Gen. Chad D. Raduege, the chief information officer of U.S. European Command.
Global standard setting at 3GPP endangered with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
RCRWireless
Keith Mallinson
It took the industry 30 years to consolidate mobile communications developments into a single 4G standard with the introduction of LTE and the demise of WiMAX. That attainment—also in 5G—should be cherished; but it is imperiled by geopolitical developments.
Russia is nearly isolated online. What does that mean for the internet’s future?
NBC News
David Ingram
Russia is three weeks into a test that the internet has never seen before: A major economic and global power is nearly isolated online after international sanctions cut off many services from abroad and the Russian government clamped down harder on online speech and access inside its borders.
Chinese man in Ukraine uses videos to fight Russian aggression, and haters back home
The Wall Street Journal
Wenxin Fan
Wang Jixian, a software programmer from Beijing, is one of the last Chinese nationals still in Ukraine. Instead of fleeing, he is posting videos from Odessa in what he calls a two-front battle: against the Russian invasion on one side, and against his own compatriots back home on the other.
Australia
Government needs to push Big Tech to protect online safety, says report
The Australian
Joanne Tran
The federal government should push Big Tech to do more to enforce safety standards, says a new report into online harms on social media.
China
China's cyber regulator sends team to social media firm Douban
Reuters
Brenda Goh
China's cyber space regulator has sent a team to the offices of social media company Douban to make changes after it found ""serious network chaos"" on the company's platform, the regulator said on Tuesday.
China regulator to extend youth time limits to videos and WeChat
Nikkei Asia
Cissy Zhou
China's top internet regulator signaled on Monday that streaming services, social networks and online messaging services will have to restrict children's usage as online gaming platforms were made to do last year.
Chinese technology stocks swing wildly in Hong Kong
Nikkei Asia
Chinese technology stocks swung wildly in Hong Kong on Tuesday, compounding overnight losses in New York.
USA
Biden signs cyber incident reporting bill into law
The Record by Recorded Future
Martin Matishak
President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed into law a $1.5 million government funding bill that includes legislation mandating critical infrastructure owners report if their organization has been hacked or made a ransomware payment.
How California is building the nation’s first privacy police
The New York Times
David McCabe
A new state agency has a $10 million budget to regulate Google, Facebook and others. But first it needs to be created.
China-UAE ties raise US technology safety questions for lawmakers
Roll Call
Gopal Ratnam
Congress has directed U.S. intelligence agencies to take a closer look at the growing relationship between China and the United Arab Emirates, raising questions about American military technology leaking to Beijing via a close ally.
North Asia
South Korea's incoming president vows big cryptocurrency push
Nikkei Asia
Kim Jaewon and Dylan Loh
South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol will take office in May with no business experience but strong ideas on one of the most contentious subjects in finance, cryptocurrencies.
NZ & Pacific Islands
Spies stopped 'sensitive' NZ technology reaching foreign military, MPs hear
Stuff
Thomas Manch
The Security Intelligence Service says it has stopped a person who was helping to provide a foreign state “sensitive” New Zealand technology, which was likely headed for military use.
Europe
Germany issues hacking warning for users of Russian anti-virus software Kaspersky
Reuters
Joseph Nasr
Germany's cyber security agency on Tuesday warned users of an anti-virus software developed by Moscow-based Kaspersky Lab that it poses a serious risk of a successful hacking attack.
Intel to invest $36 billion in new computer chip factories in Europe
The Washington Post
Jeanne Whalen
Computer chip giant Intel announced Tuesday that it will invest at least $36 billion in new semiconductor manufacturing and research facilities in Europe, continuing the company’s drive to fortify Western production of a component considered vital for national and economic security.
Middle East
Israel says government sites targeted by cyberattack
Al Jazeera
Israel says its government websites were hit by a cyberattack but services have since been restored. The websites of the ministry of the interior, the ministry of defence and others were affected on Monday.
Africa
South Africa regulator refers Meta to tribunal over dominance
Reuters
Tim Cocks
South Africa's Competition Commission on Monday said it had referred Facebook and WhatsApp owner Meta Platforms to a tribunal for allegedly abusing its dominant position in the market.
Events & Podcasts
The Sydney Dialogue: Who Works? The Crisis of Automation in the Indo-Pacific
The Sydney Dialogue
The world is undergoing the largest workforce transition since the industrial revolution, and the Indo-Pacific is at the epicentre of this shift. Post pandemic, public and private sector enterprises of all sizes are capitalising on improvements in productivity, efficiency, and profitability by accelerating the rate at which they are applying technology to automate and augment work with more machines doing the work once done by people. Watch on catch up now.
Research
Jobs
The Sydney Dialogue - Director
ASPI ICPC
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) is currently recruiting for a Director to lead the second iteration of ASPI’s Sydney Dialogue - the world’s premier summit on emerging, critical and cyber technologies.
The Sydney Dialogue - Senior Events Coordinator
ASPI ICPC
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) is currently recruiting for an experienced events professional to coordinate the planning and logistics of the second iteration of ASPI’s Sydney Dialogue - the world’s premier summit on emerging, critical and cyber technologies.
ICPC Senior Analyst or Analyst - China
ASPI ICPC
ASPI’s International Cyber Policy Centre (ICPC) has a unique opportunity for exceptional and experienced China-focused senior analysts or analysts to join its centre. This role will focus on original research and analysis centred around the (growing) range of topics which our ICPC China team work on. Our China team produces some of the most impactful and well-read policy-relevant research in the world, with our experts often being called upon by politicians, governments, corporates and civil society actors to provide briefings and advice.
Important disclaimer: This digest is a daily collation of material designed to provide authoritative information and commentary in relation to the subject matters covered. The views expressed in this material are those of the authors only. To provide feedback please contact: icpc@aspi.org.au