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Optus Data Breach   Alert

Sep 30, 2022 - To help protect against fraud, Optus has notified customers to look to reputable sources such as Moneysmart and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

Cloud assessment and authorisation FAQ   Publication

Jan 18, 2024 - This publication provides answers to frequently asked questions on the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD)’s assessment and authorisation framework for cloud service providers (CSPs) and their cloud services.

Strategies to mitigate cybersecurity incidents: Mitigation details   Publication

Feb 1, 2017 - The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) has developed prioritised mitigation strategies to help cybersecurity professionals in all organisations mitigate cybersecurity incidents caused by various cyberthreats. This guidance addresses targeted cyber intrusions (i.e. those executed by advanced persistent threats such as foreign intelligence services), ransomware and external adversaries with destructive intent, malicious insiders, ‘business email compromise’, and industrial control systems.

Using the Information security manual   Advice

Jul 3, 2025 - This chapter of the Information security manual (ISM) provides guidance on using the ISM.

Securing PowerShell in the enterprise   Publication

Oct 6, 2021 - This publication describes a maturity framework for PowerShell, balancing the security and business requirements of organisations. This framework enables organisations to take incremental steps towards securing PowerShell across their environment.

Critical security vulnerability affecting Apache Struts2 below 6.4.0.   Alert

Dec 13, 2024 - ASD’s ACSC is aware of a critical vulnerability impacting Apache Struts2 below 6.4.0 (CVE-2024-53677).

Security configuration guide: Samsung Galaxy S10, S20 and Note 20 devices   Publication

Oct 6, 2021 - ASD has developed this guide to assist Australian’s to understand risks when deploying Samsung Galaxy and Samsung Note devices and the security requirements that need to be met to allow them to handle classified data.

Ransomware targeting Australian aged care and healthcare sectors   Alert

Aug 2, 2020 - The Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC) is aware of increased targeting of healthcare, including hospitals and aged care, by ransomware campaigns undertaken by cyber criminals.

Log4j: What Boards and Directors Need to Know   Advisory

Jan 7, 2022 - Log4j is a software library used as a building block found in a wide variety of Java applications. The Log4j vulnerability – otherwise known as Log4Shell – is trivial to exploit, and represents a significant business continuity risk. This publication outlines what Boards and Directors need to know in order to protect their businesses.

High Severity Vulnerability present in Microsoft Outlook for Windows   Alert

Mar 29, 2023 - The Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC) is aware of a Microsoft Outlook for Windows vulnerability. All Australian organisations using all versions of Microsoft Outlook for Windows should apply the available patch immediately.

Critical vulnerability in ConnectWise’s ScreenConnect   Alert

Feb 25, 2024 - The Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre ( ASD’s ACSC) is aware of a critical vulnerability affecting ConnectWise’s ScreenConnect. Customers should update to the patched version immediately.

Joint Advisory on Technical Approaches to Uncovering and Remediating Malicious Activity   Advisory

Sep 2, 2020 - The purpose of this report is to enhance incident response among partners and network administrators along with serving as a playbook for incident investigation.

ASD's ACSC Threat Report 2015   Reports and statistics

Jul 15, 2015 - This report describes the range of cyber adversaries targeting Australian networks, their motives, and the type of malicious activities they are conducting and their impact on Australian networks during 2014. It also offers mitigation advice on how organisations can defend against these activities.

Security configuration guide: Viasat Mobile Dynamic Defense   Publication

Oct 6, 2021 - ASD has developed this guide to assist Australian’s to understand risks when deploying Viasat MDD devices and the security requirements that need to be met to allow them to handle classified data.

Critical vulnerability in certain versions of Apache HTTP Server   Alert

Oct 8, 2021 - A vulnerability exists in Apache HTTP Server 2.4.49. A cyber actor could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code. Initial information also indicates that the vulnerability could also be used perform remote code execution under certain configurations. Affected Australian organisations should apply the available patch.

Exploitation of Microsoft Office vulnerability: Follina   Alert

Jun 15, 2022 - The Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC) is aware of active exploitation of the Follina zero-day vulnerability in the Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool (CVE-2022-30190). Affected Australian organisations should take appropriate action.

Potential Accellion File Transfer Appliance compromise   Alert

Feb 25, 2021 - The ACSC has identified Australian organisations that may have been impacted by the Accellion File Transfer Appliance vulnerability and have provided mitigation recommendations.

Principles of operational technology cybersecurity   Publication

Oct 2, 2024 - Critical infrastructure organisations provide vital services, including supplying clean water, energy, and transportation, to the public. These organisations rely on operational technology (OT) to control and manage the physical equipment and processes that provide these critical services. As such, the continuity of vital services relies on critical infrastructure organisations ensuring the cybersecurity and safety of their OT.

2020-002: Critical vulnerabilities for Microsoft Windows   Alert

Jan 15, 2020 - On 15 January 2020 (AEDT), Microsoft released security patches for three critical and one important vulnerabilities in the Microsoft Remote Desktop Client, Remote Desktop Gateway and the Windows operating system. The ACSC recommends that users of these products apply patches urgently to prevent malicious actors from using these vulnerabilities to compromise your network.

Cyber Skills Framework   Publication

Sep 10, 2020 - The Cyber Skills Framework enables targeted recruitment of cyber specialists, provides a development pathway for current and future cyber staff, and aligns skills, knowledge and attributes with national and international industry standards.

Critical Vulnerability in popular Java framework Apache Struts2   Alert

Dec 14, 2023 - The Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) is concerned about a critical Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability in Apache Struts2. This primarily affects Java applications which use this framework. Apache Struts2 is widely used in enterprise and bespoke Java applications.

Limited Use    Guidance

Dec 3, 2024 - The limited use obligation for the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) has been legislated to add additional protections to the information organisations voluntarily provide to ASD, and to the information acquired or prepared by ASD with the consent of an organisation.

Gateway security guidance package: Gateway security principles   Publication

Jul 29, 2022 - Guidance written for audiences responsible for the procurement, operation and management of gateways.

Domain Name System security for domain resolvers   Publication

Oct 6, 2021 - This publication explores DNS security for recursive resolution servers. It also shares helpful strategies to reduce the risk of DNS resolver subversion or compromise.

ASD's Blueprint for Secure Cloud   Publication

Feb 21, 2024 - The Blueprint provides better practice guidance, configuration guides and templates covering risk management, architecture and standard operating procedures developed as per the controls in ASD’s Information security manual (ISM).

Gootkit Loader continues to be used on multiple Australian networks   Advisory

Dec 23, 2022 - The Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC) continues to observe instances of Gootkit JavaScript (JS) Loaders on multiple Australian networks in 2022. Open source reporting also indicates continued Gootkit activity.

Hardening Microsoft Windows 10 and Windows 11 workstations   Publication

Jul 16, 2024 - This publication provides recommendations on hardening workstations using Enterprise and Education editions of Microsoft Windows 10 and Windows 11. While this publication refers to workstations, most recommendations are equally applicable to servers (with the exception of Domain Controllers) using Microsoft Windows Server. Security features discussed in this publication, along with the names and locations of Group Policy settings, are taken from Microsoft Windows 10 version 22H2 and Windows 11 version 23H2.

Gateway security guidance package: Overview   Publication

Jul 29, 2022 - This page provides an overview of ASD’s Gateway security guidance package.

Detecting socially engineered messages   Publication

Oct 6, 2021 - Socially engineered messages pose a significant threat to organisations. They can have a big impact, helping malicious actors access accounts, systems or sensitive information. Learn how to spot a socially engineered message, including through email, SMS, social media or messaging apps.

Social media terms of use  

May 7, 2024 - The Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC) uses a number of social media services as part of its communications activities. These services include Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Vimeo and YouTube.