Australia’s first cybersecurity coordinator says paying ransoms a mistake
Australia’s newly minted cybersecurity coordinator is pleading with companies not to pay ransoms, saying doing so risks making the nation a rich target for cybercrime.
As the federal government develops a new 2023-30 Cyber Security Strategy, Air Marshal Darren Goldie warns that rapidly evolving technology, including artificial intelligence, will create new challenges.
In his first interview since being appointed to the newly created role, Air Marshal Goldie said he strongly discouraged Australians from paying ransoms.
“Paying a ransom neither guarantees that your data won’t be released, nor guarantees that they won’t be back next week asking for another ransom,” he said.
“I think it is a mistake. I think it feeds that criminal model and we’ll see Australia become a rich target.”
Source: ABC News