AI Cyberattacks: Australia's Cybersecurity Chief Warns of AI Supercharging Hacking
Australian Financial Review
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Details
- Date Published
- 11 Oct 2025
- Priority Score
- 3
- Australian
- Yes
- Created
- 13 Oct 2025, 03:40 pm
Description
The caution from National Cyber Security Coordinator Michelle McGuinness came as criminals published personal data of millions of Qantas customers online.
Summary
Australia's National Cyber Security Coordinator, Michelle McGuinness, highlights a rising threat from AI-powered cyberattacks, which are becoming increasingly difficult to detect and mitigate. This warning comes in the wake of significant data breaches, including the exposure of Qantas customer data. The article does not delve deeply into existential or catastrophic AI risks but provides insight into the growing role of AI in cybercrime, underscoring the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures. It situates the discussion within Australia's national security framework, emphasizing the government's proactive steps in engaging banks and businesses to counteract these sophisticated threats.
Body
PolicyForeign Affairs & SecurityCyber warfarePrint articleMichael ReadForeign affairs and defence correspondentOct 12, 2025 – 8.00pmSaveLog inorSubscribeto save articleShareCopy linkCopiedEmailLinkedInTwitterFacebookCopy linkCopiedShare via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber?LoginThe country’s most senior cybersecurity official has warned widespread adoption of artificial intelligence by criminal groups will supercharge a wave of hacking that is already overwhelming major businesses, making attempts at stealing personal information almost impossible to detect.Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness, the National Cyber Security Coordinator, met with the major banks and hosted a discussion with 1000 businesses last week as the government ramps up efforts to stop hacking.Loading...Michael Readis the foreign affairs and defence correspondent, reporting from Parliament House, Canberra. He was formerly economics correspondent. He joined the Financial Review in 2021 from the Reserve Bank of Australia. Reach Michael securely @michaelread.14 on Signal.EmailMichaelatmichael.read@afr.comSaveLog inorSubscribeto save articleShareCopy linkCopiedEmailLinkedInTwitterFacebookCopy linkCopiedShare via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber?LoginLicense articleFollow the topics, people and companies that matter to you.Find out moreRead MoreCyber warfareCybersecurityAIQantasOptusMedibank PrivateFetching latest articlesHow we shot the 2025 Power issueMatthew DrummondAustralia’s 10 most powerful people in 2025The year’s top 10 power players (that aren’t people)This investment guru backed Nvidia in 2016. Here are his other tipsSally Patten, Mandy Coolen and Rachael BoltonHow a maths whizz fled Russia and built a firm whose stock is up 780pc‘Superstars’ change jobs roughly every two years, says this CEOWhen doing Tokyo, this mountain town is a perfect palate cleanserLey ButterworthThe hotel group that can propel you onto society’s A-listThe triumphant – or devastating – process of testing Penfolds vintagesBastas’ $7b pharmacy and beauty empire posts eightfold jump in profit1 hr agoCampbell KwanInsta-famous fitness app founders appoint tech veteran as new CEOInside a Young Rich Lister’s million-dollar home wellness space