IT Outage Ends but Sparks Fears of a Vulnerable System

IT Outage Ends but Sparks Fears of a Vulnerable System
A checkout terminal hit by IT issues is seen at a Coles store in Canberra, July 19, 2024. Australian banks and media companies have been hit by a major IT outage. AAP Image/Lukas Coch
AAP
By AAP
Updated:
0:00

An unprecedented IT outage caused by a simple software update that crippled companies and services around the country has revealed just how vulnerable Australia’s security infrastructure could be to a malicious attack.

Banks, media outlets, airports, supermarkets, retailers, and government services and even hospitals were left scrambling by the outage that hit just after 3pm Australian Eastern Standard Time on July 19.