Australia concerned over 'malicious' cyber attack on hospitals

Earlier this month, Australian Cyber Security Centre warned that state-based hackers were actively targeting health sector organisations and medical research facilities amid the pandemic outbreak. — Visual Content/VisualHunt/CC BY

Australia has expressed concern over "malicious" hacking attacks across the world by cyber criminals and state-based actors targeting hospitals, medical services and facilities as well as crisis response organisations amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The government "is concerned that malicious cyber actors are seeking to exploit the pandemic for their own gain," Australia's department of foreign affairs and its trade and cyber security centre said in a joint statement on May 20.