Australia is recruiting 500 additional cyber spies and making its largest investment in digital security after a breakdown in diplomatic relations with Beijing and mutual allegations of espionage activity.
The A$1.35bn ($930m) investment over a decade follows a warning from Scott Morrison, Australia’s prime minister, that the nation’s government, businesses and educational institutions have been under sustained attack from a sophisticated state actor.
He did not name the nation responsible for the attacks but cyber security analysts said their sophistication, broad-based nature and intent suggested China was the most likely culprit.