Transnational cyberattacks include malicious ransomware incursions which increasingly pose a risk to personal data breaches and to the financial and IT security of large government organisations and companies across all industry sectors.

One estimate suggests up to 40% of company insurance claims now relates to randomware attacks. The 2021-21 Australian Cyber Security Centre annual cyber threat report featured almost 500 ransomware cybercrime cases, with a warning that ransom demands paid via untraceable cryptocurrencies is making it more difficult to retrieve any payments made to release data.

In the first of a new Flinders University ‘Crime in the City’ lecture series, two South Australian businesses – oil and gas producer Beach Energy and SA Power Networks – will outline their ransomware safeguards in a public lecture today (Tuesday 28 September, 4.30pm-6.30pm, at 182 Victoria Square, Adelaide.)

“Ransomware has become a significant disruptor against Australian interests and those of our allies, so we urgently need to expand our knowledge around the motivations, methods, and characteristics of those involved in ransomware attack,” says Professor Andrew Goldsmith, director of the Centre for Crime Policy and Research at Flinders University.

Leeds University Professor David Wall, one of the UK’s and Europe’s leading scholars in the field of cybercrime, and Flinders University experts will join Aaron Finnis, Information Security Manager at Beach Energy, and Nathan Morelli, Chief Information Security Officer of SA Power, on the panel and for a Q&A session to follow.

“Ransomware attacks in some cases have been linked directly to certain nation-states, while in many instances they reflect the actions of politically motivated hackers as well as a growth area for economically motivated organised crime groups,” says Professor Goldsmith, who will chair the lecture.

“As well as ransomware attacks on critical infrastructure including utilities, hospitals and government agencies, our national security agencies including Defence are ramping up their abilities to anticipate, detect and deter these attacks.”

Flinders University criminology researcher, Dr RV Gundur, an expert in online currency-related crimes, will also join the discussions.

“There has been a clear change in the way ransomware attacks unfold and who they target. A lot of attention is placed on the multimillion-dollar extortions but small extortions used to be commonplace,” Dr Gundur says.

“As the developing world becomes wealthier and more internet-connected, we need to see if new dogs use old tricks.”

The Flinders University Centre for Crime Policy and Research is conducting the Crime in the City lecture series to bring experts and members of the public together to examine issues of current policy concern in the fields of crime, security and public safety.

The lecture is open to the public – Level 1, Flinders University building, 182 Victoria Square, Adelaide – or online via the booking link.