By If first world countries can have their mainstream media hacked what more of our local broadcasters.Such fears trigger around when we realise our limited capacity but it is real that a cyber-attack has disrupted live broadcasts on Australia’s Channel Nine TV network, prompting concerns about the country’s vulnerability to hackers.
The broadcaster said it was unable to air several shows on Sunday, including Weekend Today.
Nine said it was investigating whether the hack was “criminal sabotage or the work of a foreign nation”.
Australia’s parliament was also investigating a possible cyber-attack in Canberra on Sunday.
Assistant Defence Minister Andrew Hastie said access to IT and emails at Parliament House had been cut as a precaution. He said this was done in response to issues affecting an “external provider”, without elaborating.
“This is a timely reminder that Australians cannot be complacent about their cyber-security,”
“The government acted quickly, and we have the best minds in the world working to ensure Australia remains the most secure place to operate online,” he said.
Cyber intelligence experts say only a few states – China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea – have the capacity for such attacks and are not allied with Australia.
Experts have long linked various hacks in Australia to China.
Relations between the two nations have severely deteriorated in recent years
Nine, which also owns The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age newspapers, said its publishing and radio divisions were largely unaffected.
But its TV section was. At first, Nine said it was “responding to technical issues” affecting its live broadcasting.
Weekend Today, which runs from 07:00 to 13:00 local time (21:00 to 03:00 GMT) from Sydney, did not air.
Its online news site, 9news.com.au, was also affected.
Nine told all its staff to work at home until further notice. It was able to air its shows on Monday.
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