{"id":7218,"date":"2024-01-25T12:07:17","date_gmt":"2024-01-25T01:07:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aidn.org.au\/?p=7218"},"modified":"2024-01-25T12:07:17","modified_gmt":"2024-01-25T01:07:17","slug":"cyber-sanction-in-response-to-medibank-private-cyber-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aidn.sparkweb.cloud\/cyber-sanction-in-response-to-medibank-private-cyber-attack\/","title":{"rendered":"Cyber sanction in response to Medibank Private cyber attack"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Hon Richard Marles MP<\/strong> Senator The Hon Penny Wong<\/strong> The Hon Clare O\u2019Neil MP<\/strong> MEDIA RELEASE<\/strong><\/p> Australia has today used cyber sanctions powers on a Russian individual for his role in the breach of the Medibank Private network.<\/p> This is the first use of Australia\u2019s autonomous cyber sanctions framework and is a result of Australian Government efforts over the past 18 months to investigate and respond to this cyber incident.<\/p> In the attack, 9.7 million records were stolen. These records included names, dates of birth, Medicare numbers, and sensitive medical information. Some records were published on the dark web.<\/p> The Australian Signals Directorate and the Australian Federal Police, under Operation Aquila, together with other Commonwealth agencies and international partners, have worked tirelessly to link Russian citizen and cybercriminal Aleksandr Ermakov to the compromise of the Medibank Private network and continue to pursue other leads.<\/p> The Australian Government has imposed a targeted financial sanction and a travel ban on Aleksandr Ermakov. This sanction makes it a criminal offence, punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment and heavy fines, to provide assets to Aleksandr Ermakov, or to use or deal with his assets, including through cryptocurrency wallets or ransomware payments.<\/p> This announcement highlights the Albanese Government\u2019s commitment in the 2023\u20112030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy<\/em> to deter and respond to malicious cyber activity, including through the use of sanctions.<\/p> We encourage all Australians \u2013 including businesses \u2013 to be vigilant about their cyber security arrangements to help make Australia a harder target against increasing malicious cyber activity.<\/p> The Australian Government discourages businesses and individuals from paying ransoms or extortion claims to cyber criminals. If you are asked to pay a ransom you should:<\/p>
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Defence<\/p>
Leader of the Government in the Senate
Minister for Foreign Affairs<\/p>
Minister for Home Affairs
Minister for Cyber Security<\/p>