Private schools are increasingly targeted by hackers seeking to steal personal data for blackmail, with average cybercrime costs reaching $30,000 per victim.

The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) will release its annual threat assessment, revealing a rise in state-sponsored cyber operations due to escalating geopolitical tensions.

ASD head Abigail Bradshaw pointed out that foreign governments, particularly China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, are actively gathering intelligence and preparing for cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure.

Malicious cyber actors have been adapting their strategies, employing techniques that allow them to blend in with regular network traffic to avoid detection.

Last year, the ASD managed more than 1,100 cybersecurity incidents, with one case involving significant compromise of a government or critical infrastructure network.

Sensitive data

Following high-profile data breaches in 2022, hackers are focusing on networks that store sensitive personal information.

The ASD has identified private schools as a prominent target due to their possession of student records, which might include mental health data, making them susceptible to extortion attempts from hackers.

Private schools make up about 5% of the incidents the ASD responded to, indicating a growing concern in this sector.