Federal Parliament Targeted by ‘Brute Force’ Cyber Attack

Australia’s federal parliament suffered a brute force attack for less than 24 hours in late March. Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images

Australia’s federal parliament was the target of a “brute force” cyber-attack that lasted less than 24 hours in late March which resulted in the Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) staff losing access to their phones and tablets for 10 days.

“On March 26, 2021, the DPS was the subject of malicious cyber activity,” Scott Ryan, president of the Senate, told an estimates hearing on Monday.