The Lowy Institute, Australia’s leading foreign affairs think tank, has suffered at least two cyber-attacks originating from China. It was stated that both attacks mirrored the tactics used in previous campaigns launched against think tanks in the United States. In the other attacks of the same nature, the attackers attempted to view communications as well as user data of their customers. The attackers attempted to use a watering hole attack in an attempt to target communications between the think tank and members of the Australian government and business/industry leaders. At this time the Lowy Institute is not sure if any sensitive information was accessed in either of the attacks, which took place in 2012 and earlier this year. The Lowy Institute has said that the security measures on their systems have been increased and improved significantly since the discovery of the attacks.
