India and Australia join hands to counter Chinese Cyber Attacks
In the last decade China has emerged as a major Cyber threat actor in Asia. China is pointed out several times as being a universal threat actor carrying out “regular Cyber Sabotage” on a colossal scale, using unlawful hacking firms for snooping and targeting political adversaries of nations like Australia and India.
In light of the expanding Cyber warfare activities by China, all other countries in Asia-pacific region have become alert on preparing to counter such attacks by building up their offensive and defensive Cyber fronts, largely by associating with powerful countries. Most recently, India and Australia have been associating on various levels to counter China in the region.
Such critical association in the Cyber domain between the two countries is triggered by the series of China-backed attacks on both countries has faced over time.
On 19th June 2020, the Australian administration was under attack by ongoing sophisticated state-based Cyber hackers. The attacks were extensive that covered all levels of supervision. The attacks have eventuated over months and it was suspected that China was behind the attacks.
On 17th June 2021, it was found out by a US firm that China-backed RedFoxtrot (a hacking firm) targeted defense research, telecom in India for six months. That was a time when border tensions between both the rival nations were at their peak.
In March, the identical Cybersecurity firm supposed another China-linked hacker group, named ‘RedEcho’, was targeting India’s power sector, including state-owned NTPC, India’s energy Conglomerate.
Recently, India and Australia have reaffirmed their commitment to an open, protected, liberal, nonviolent, and non-conflicting cyberspace and technologies that stick on to international law. The ministry of India and Australia have recognized collaboration in the sectors of Cyber Governance, Cyber security, digital economy, and Cyber critical technologies.
In 2021, Australia declared three Cyber projects with India as it launched its International Cyber and critical Technology Engagement strategy, setting the goal for a safe, secure, and prosperous Australia, Indo- Pacific, and the world.
Such association between India and Australia will also open markets for the private cyber players of both countries to offer their services in the space to the counterpart governments.
For instance, Indian Cyber players like Phronesis, Agalya, Shoghi, CyberRoot Risk Advisory, Secfence, and ClearTrail Technologies, already experienced in serving Middle East may certainly could like to pitch Australia for strengthening its Cyber fronts.
